A Honokohau home fire at a vacant West Maui home caused $679,000 in damage, according to a Maui Fire Department estimate released Saturday.

The cause of the fire, which was reported by a passing motorist at 9:21 p.m. Thursday, is undetermined. The Fire Department estimates that 70 percent of the structure was destroyed in the blaze.

The remoteness of the location complicated firefighting efforts. The motorist who reported the fire had to drive to Kapalua to get cellphone service.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 9:39 p.m. and encountered heavy smoke and flames coming from the 3,757-square-foot, single-story home, which was on the makai side of Honoapiilani Highway, near the mouth of the Honokohau Stream.

Since the area is not served by fire hydrants, crews used a water tanker to fight the fire. The blaze was under control by 10:10 p.m. and was extinguished at 2:30 a.m. Friday morning.

Man charged after police chase in Pepeekeo

A Honomu man has been charged in connection with a police pursuit July 24 in Pepeekeo.

Jordan Kaneshiro, 30, was charged Thursday with firearms offenses, drug offenses and resisting an order to stop.

On July 24, police pursued a Ford sedan driven by Kaneshiro on Highway 19 between Pepeekeo and Hilo, the Hawaii Police Department said by email. The car later was found abandoned in Papaikou.

A search warrant for the vehicle turned up a loaded handgun and black tar heroin, police said.

Police arrested Kaneshiro on Wednesday at a residence in Ainaloa.