Waimea Fire Caused $200K in Damage

A former boat manfufacturing facility in Waimea burned burned Saturday afternoon.

The Hawai’i County Fire Department arrived on scene just before 12:30 p.m. to find about 75 percent of a 16,000 square foot warehouse at the corner of Kahilu Road and Pualahilahi Alanui Road on fire. The building was a large warehouse that had been used in boat manufacturing over 10 years ago, but has recently been used for storage and farming.

Flames were so involved with the structure that they were venting through windows and the roof. Upon arrival, HFD found several vehicles were on fire and a large number of onlookers had gathered

Twenty-one different fire fighters and officials assisted in contolling the fire by 1:15 p.m. Neighbors in the area were evacuated and a roadblock was set up, closing Kahilu Road.

HFD says that the facility was cluttered and filled with boat building fiberglass supplies, boat molds, and cardboard boxes, which made extingushing the fire difficult, along with the metal roof collapsing.

A 12-by-14 foot living area that was partially attached to the facility was saved.

Authorities say no suspicious activity was noted prior to the fire, and no one was at the facility when it started. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.

The estimated loss is valued at $200,000.