HPD Investigating Pāhoa Structure Fire Fatality

The Hawaiʻi Island Police Department is investigating a fatal structure fire that occurred in Puna early Friday morning Nov. 23, 2018.

Police and fire units were dispatched to the scene at 1:21 a.m. for a reported structure fire at a home on Ainaloa Drive in Pāhoa.  Responding units found a small detached studio fully engulfed in flames.   After firefighters extinguished the fire, a body was discovered in the remnants of the dwelling.

The identity of the victim and cause of the fire are still under investigation. This is currently classified as a fire and an unattended death investigation being conducted by the Criminal Investigation Section.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Jesse Kerr at (808) 961-2379 or at jesse.kerr@hawaiicounty.gov.