Outside Kitchen in Pahoa Destroyed by Fire

A garage used as an outside kitchen for a home near Pahoa was destroyed by fire Sunday morning.

A spokesman for the Hawaii County Fire Department said firefighters arriving at the scene at Kekauonohi Place found flames coming from the rear of a home.

Neighbors attempting to extinguish the blaze told firefighters that they were forced to back away from the building out of concern that flames might reach propane tanks used for the kitchen’s stove.

Firefighters were able to put out the flames before they reached the main structure. When the owner arrived home from church he told firefighters that he did not know the cause of the fire.

Damage was estimated at $1,000. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.