Posted at 12:09 p.m., Monday, July 3, 2006
Explosion destroyed Big Island home, police disclose
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i -- A man in a home in Ahualoa on the Big Island warned police to get away from the house Saturday shortly before an explosion blew out the windows of the structure and started a fire that destroyed the building, police said today.Firefighters later found a body in the ruins of the home, but police have not yet identified the person who died.
Patrol officers were called to the home on the Old Mamalahoa Highway shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday in connection with a report of a violation of a Family Court protective order.
Police smelled gasoline and spoke with a man in the Mamalahoa Highway house who "warned them to leave," police said in a written statement. A short time later, there was an explosion from inside the home that sent glass and other debris flying, police said.
Lt. Randall Medeiros said the subject of the Family Court restraining order was a 30-year-old who used to live in the house in Ahualoa.
Police said the complaint was called in from Waimea, and the person who made the complaint is safe.
