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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

House fire in Waipahu displaces 19 people


Advertiser Staff

A fire Tuesday caused significant damage to the front of a single-family home on Huakai Street in Waipahu and displaced the 19 people living there.

Firefighters responding to a 2:30 p.m. call found the right front portion of the nine-bedroom house "heavily involved" and an live electrical line lying on the ground where it had fallen, according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Terry Seelig.
As many as nine people were home at the time but all were able to make it out safely.
Personnel from the Waikele police station used the department's new compressed air foam system, which absorbs heat faster than water can, to battle the blaze.
"A fire like this grows rapidly and can double in size in a matter of seconds," Seelig said. "With the CAF system, we were able to contain it fairly quickly. It was a good stop."
While the fire did not significantly damage the rest of the home, the downed line left the residence without electricity. The Red Cross was called to assist the 19 residents displaced by the fire.
Damage has been estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $25,000 to its contents.