Eight Injured in Kauhale‘olu Apartment Fire

Eight people were evacuated, treated and transported to Hilo Medical Center as a result of a fire on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, at the Kauhale‘olu Apartments, J Building, on Kumula Street in Pepe’ekeo.

Hawai‘i Island firefighters arrived at the scene at 5:40 a.m. to find a two-story apartment building comprised of four units with the upper floors fully involved in flames.

Additional apartment buildings in the complex were also threatened.

The fire was was caused by unattended cooking.

The fire suppressed with multiple hand lines and a master stream device.

The fire had to be fought from the exterior until conditions were tenable for entry. Upon entry, primary search and suppression measures were conducted using a thermal imager.

Power lines to building were down and the breaker was shut down as a precaution.

The building suffered severe fire and water damage.

HFD assisted lower apartment occupants with salvage of their personal items.

The Red Cross and an apartment complex representative assisted displaced occupants.

Pepe’ekeo Kauhale’olu LLC no damage estimate available at this time.