VIDEO: Investigators have determined a Nanakuli residential fire was incendiary. The fire occurred shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday at 87-2146 Helelua Place. According to the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD), firefighters responded to reports of a residential building fire and arrived on scene at around 3:21 p.m. Crews said the two-story apartment building was engulfed in flames upon arrival. Firefighters secured a water supply and brought the fire under control at around 3:54 p.m.
HFD said the fire was fully extinguished at 4:48 p.m. Crews conducted a building search and ensured no one was inside the building at the time of the fire. Neighbor Clinton Yamaguchi said he noticed smoke filling the sky before realizing a nearby unit was on fire. โI smelled smoke. I looked in the sky, and yeah, it looked kinda smoky out here,โ Yamaguchi said. โWe both came out of the unit, and thatโs when we saw the unit pretty much engulfed in flames, real fast.โ
No one has been arrested for arson, but Honolulu police did take a man into custody at the scene for criminal contempt of court. Neighbors say he lives in the unit where the fire started. โAt times, he would have these episodes or issues or whatever you want to call it. But yeah, and itโs kind of disturbing, you know.โ
