Police, fire inspectors investigate arson accusation after a fire damages Puna home

Owners of a house involved in a fire requested an arson investigation after a fire damaged a portion of their remodeled home in ʻĀinaloa in Puna early Monday morning.

The Hawaiʻi Police Department was the first to arrive at the scene of a garage fire on Treefern Drive in ʻĀinaloa just before 5 a.m. this morning. Responders found that contents in the corner of an open carport were involved in the fire.

Police were able to extinguish most of the fire with a garden hose before the arrival of the Hawaiʻi Fire Department. Firefighters handled the remaining smoldering fire and overhauled the walls and ceiling of the garage to search for any fire extension.

Bystanders reported that no one was in the structure, and the owners arrived shortly after the fire was put out.

According to the fire department, the owners requested that an arson investigation be opened due to suspicious circumstances they noticed at the scene.

The 1,500-square-foot, single-story house had just been remodeled and was vacant at the time of the fire.

Police remained at the scene to wait for the arrival of fire inspectors.