HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
KONA PATROL DIVISION
ACTING CAPTAIN LEO K. JITCHAKU
PHONE: 326-4646
OCTOBER 4, 2004
I-07747

MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii County firefighters extinguished a fire of undetermined origin Monday (October 4, 2004) at a Kailua-Kona apartment complex.

No one was reported injured in the blaze, which was reported to police at 8:55 a.m., but the fire caused an estimated $500,000 damage to eight units and displaced eight families. Police said the Red Cross was assisting the families find shelter.

The fire was located at the Lailani Apartments on Manawalewa Street in Kailua-Kona. Arriving fire units located the fire in Building 20.

Kona patrol officers determined that a 16-year-old female woke up smelling smoke. She woke up her 22-year-old brother in another bedroom, and the two went into another brother’s bedroom, which they found on fire. The two were unable to extinguish the fire. They, three minor children in the apartment and residents of adjoining units were evacuated. The adjoining units were damaged by smoke and water.

Fire investigators were unable to immediately determine the cause of the blaze.

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