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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, April 9, 2007

Aliamanu family homeless, but safe, after house fire

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two adults and four children escaped safely from a fire that gutted one side of a three-bedroom Aliamanu duplex yesterday, leaving a large family homeless.

Minako Moses, 29, her boyfriend Quincy Loeak, 25, and their 20-month-old son, Troy, jumped out of a second-floor bedroom window of their home at 924 Kahikolu Place. Three other young boys, ages 4-6, made it out on their own as flames engulfed the residence they shared with four other adult relatives.

Five Honolulu Fire Department companies responded to the 2:45 p.m. alarm and were able to contain damage to one side of the duplex and determine that no one else was inside the burning residence.

Samson Bellu, 18, in whose bedroom the fire apparently started, said he left with a friend earlier to barbecue at Moanalua Park.

"I don't know how it started," he said.

Loeak said he was asleep in his bedroom when he heard Moses screaming.

"My girlfriend was screaming, 'Smoke,' and when I opened the window, I could see fire coming out of the other bedroom," Loeak said. "I could see the fire coming fast so me, her and Troy just jumped out of the window. The other young boys was already outside."

"Good we safe, but now we got to worry where we going," Moses said.

The Hawai'i chapter of the American Red Cross assisted the family.

The burned unit is owned by Moses' parents, who were off-island. Two of the three young boys are relatives who spent the night, according to family members. No one was at home in the other duplex.

Damage was estimated at $275,000.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.