Frying Oil Ignites, Burns Down Puna Home

A house in Mountain View was destroyed Thursday night by a fire started by frying food.

Firefighters arriving at the home at 18-1263 Kona St. at 7:36 p.m. found the structure engulfed in flames.

They were told by the resident that he was deep-frying food when the oil caught fire and flames spread to the rest of the building.

Personnel from the Keaau Fire Station used a tanker truck to fight the blaze as no nearby water source was available.

The value of the approximately 720-square-foot home in Hawaiian Island Paradise Acres off Ihope Road was estimated at $128,000.

No injuries were reported.

Red Cross volunteers arrived at the scene as firefighters were leaving to assist the occupant with emergency needs.