VIDEO: For the second day in a row, fire crews battled a fire in Hilo. Early Sunday morning, a blaze displaced seven people, prompted a mass evacuation, and forced road closures. The blaze broke out just a day after another in the town the day before at the old Pu’u’eo Poi Factory, which was converted into residences.
A 72-year-old woman and a 56-year-old woman died in the blaze, the Hawaii Police Department reported Sunday. Their identities have not yet been released. Officials determined the two-story structure is a total loss from Saturdayโs fire, which also displaced 28 people.
Sundayโs fire torched four buildings along Kinoole and Keawe Streets at around 1 a.m. and forced evacuations for 80 people, some without car keys or pets, and many carpooled out, fire officials reported.
โI saw the fire from my window. I could see it all. I heard everyone screaming, certain people on the street screaming,โ evacuee Valerie said. โ(The building) just engulfed very fast and the smoke and the embers were coming in through my window and it was time to get out, we were evacuated.โ
