Two East Hawai‘i structures destroyed in unrelated fires

No injuries were reported following two unrelated structure fires in East Hawai‘i that occurred within the last 24 hours.

The first blaze occurred on Tuesday evening. Hawai‘i Fire Department responded to a report of a brush fire at 8:09 p.m. in Hawaiian Paradise Park’s Orchidland Subdivision on Kiele Street.

When crews arrived on scene, they found a single-story wooden structure, approximately 600 square feet, engulfed in flames and fully collapsed.

The Fire was extinguished and the overhaul was completed with no occupants found in the structure.

The structure is a total loss.

A second fire occurred in Hilo early this morning.

Hawai‘i firefighters responded to 41 Manaolana Place at 2:30 a.m. When they arrived on scene, the found a 1,200-square-foot single-story structure fully engulfed.

The property owner was on scene and told authorities the house was unoccupied. The fire was under control at 3:37 a.m. Overhaul and mop-up was completed at 05:26 a.m.

While the cause is also unknown, fire officials suspect there may have been squatters at the residence.

Estimated damages total to $90,000.