Puna Information Update for December 8th, 2019
One person displaced following a structure fire in the Orchidland Estates subdivision early Sunday morning (December 8th).
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) are on scene of a confirmed structure fire that occurred in the Orchidland Estates subdivision early Sunday morning (December 8th).
The initial came in call in at 12:26 am Sunday morning and HFD crews from the Paradise Park, Kea'au, Pahoa, and Central Fire Stations along with Battalion 1, volunteers from the Hawaiian Paradise Park station, and HPD officers from the Puna Patrol responded to the scene located at the 16-1500 block of 35th Avenue in the Orchidland Estates subdivision.
Upon the arrival of HFD crews, reports came in from neighbors reporting heavy smoke and also flames were visible coming from an occupied residence (described as a single-story family dwelling) on 35th Avenue and the sole occupant (described as a male in his 60's) of that residence had safely evacuated the structure.
Once HFD crews arrived on the scene, they immediately went into an offensive and defensive mode of fire attack to gain control of the structure fire, which had engulfed approximately 80% of the structure and HFD Medics also conducted a medical assessment on the sole occupant, however, declined medical treatment at the scene. HFD crews had the fire under control at 12:54 am and had the fire extinguished at 1:12 am. HFD crews were still on scene working on completing overhaul and mop-up operations.
HFD crews encountered a couple of challenges as a result of this incident:
Arcing power lines at the scene, temporarily prevented HFD crews from extinguishing parts of the structure until Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) crew arrived to disconnect the power. Once de-energized, crews were able to access that section of the structure and knockout any remaining flames/hot spots.
Due to the limited water supply at the scene, HFD crews utilized two tankers (1 tanker from Central and 1 tanker from Pahoa) to haul water to the scene from water supply source located outside of the subdivision.
The American Red Cross is responding to the scene to assist the single-occupant displaced as a result of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.