A malfunctioning lithium battery located on the second floor storage room of a Kalihi warehouse on Rose Street was found to be the cause of a three-alarm Monday.

The battery, used to power a motorcycle, was not connected to anything at the time of the fire, said HFD spokesman Kendall Ching.

That fire caused an estimated $330,000 in total damage for the fire that struck the Wholesale Equipment warehouse. Of that, the fire caused an estimated $230,000 in damage to the structure and $100,000 to its contents.

Kelly Brezina, the 59-year-old owner who was inside the first floor office with his daughter, 23, and granddaughter, 20 months, when the fire broke out, was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters had to carry out two elderly people from their home across the street due to the heavy smoke.