A fire in Hilo caused $150,000 in damage to a three-bedroom house but an alert neighbor removed a vehicle from the property, saving it from damage, Big Island firefighters said today.
The fire on Kukuau Street was reported at 12:47 p.m. yesterday and firefighters arrived six minutes later.
They found the home 60 percent engulfed in flames, firefighters said.
Most of the damage occurred in the kitchen, living room, carport, laundry room and bathroom, with smoke and heat damage to the bedrooms, firefighters said.
No one was home when the fire broke out, but a neighbor removed a vehicle from the carport before firefighters arrived.
Firefighters had the blaze extinguished 24 minutes after the first call.