Hawai‘i Fire investigates suspicious structure fire in Puna

Authorities are investigating a suspicious structure fire in Puna.

Hawai‘i Fire Department responded to the blaze on Aug. 15 at 3:57 a.m. on the 15-0300 block of Mamo Street in the Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision. When crews arrived on scene, they found a 1200-square-foot single-story wooden residential structure on fire.

Firefighters made an initial attack and were able to get the flames under control. Additional crews provided water and manpower for the overall operations.

The blaze was out by 5:08 a.m.

Believing the origin of the fire to be suspicious, the battalion chief on scene requested fire inspectors to perform an investigation.

“The structure was boarded up, but there was evidence of possible squatters living in and around the property,” according to a press release from Hawai‘i Fire.

The estimated loss of the property totalled $138,000.