Child playing with lighter started fire

A fire at a two-story Moiliili apartment that displaced 14 people on the morning of Dec. 22 was started accidentally by a young boy playing with a lighter in a bedroom, a Honolulu Fire Department investigator has determined.

The boy’s father, who was asleep in the living room when the fire began, was injured when he woke up and rescued his son. He is recovering in the hospital.

The fire caused about $250,000 in damage to the Makahiki Way building, and about $20,000 to the contents, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig.

Teen held after crashing stolen car

Police arrested an 18-year-old Kalihi man Tuesday after a stolen vehicle he was driving crashed into a wooden utility pole outside his home, police said.

The man, who lives on Gulick Avenue, was found in the vehicle that had collided with a pole in front of 1112 Gulick Ave. about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Responding officers found the vehicle had been reported stolen and arrested the man on suspicion of robbery, car theft and two drug counts, police said.

Man arrested in felony forging

A Kalihi man who tried to cash a stolen check made out to himself for $3,400 was arrested for alleged forgery yesterday in Waianae, police said.

Because of the relatively large amount, the bank checked with the account holder and learned the check had been stolen.

Police arrested the 30-year-old man at Waianae Mall at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The man was booked on suspicion of felony forgery.

TV producer is found dead

Big Island police are investigating the death of a Los Angeles writer and producer who was found in a room at a Waikoloa resort.

According to police, Aron Abrams, 50, was found dead at 7:45 a.m. Christmas Day after police and emergency personnel were called. An autopsy is set for tomorrow.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported that Abrams was a writer and co-executive producer of "Everybody Hates Chris." The program, starring Chris Rock, was nominated in 2006 for "Best New Series" by the Writers Guild of America. He also was a supervising producer of "Grounded for Life," co-producer of "3rd Rock from the Sun" and a consulting producer of the long-running animated series "King of the Hill."

Man found after 5 days

Big Island police yesterday found a missing New Jersey man who was last seen Christmas Eve.

Walter Rankin, 50, of Florham Park, N.J., rented a bicycle at the Queens’ Marketplace at Waikoloa with the intention of riding in to meet residents in Kona. He called on Saturday from an unknown location, but efforts to contact him were unsuccessful.

A short statement from Hawaii County said he was found unharmed yesterday morning in Kailua-Kona

‘Sky Lantern’ a fire hazard

Big Island officials are warning about a small hot-air balloon novelty that can carry a flame for miles and poses a serious fire danger.

Hawaii County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira said Tuesday the "Sky Lantern," also known as the Flying or Hawaii Lantern, drifts with air currents until its fuel is depleted.

He told West Hawaii Today that the aerial lantern’s uncontrolled and unpredictable flight path can cause it to land in areas where it could potentially cause a fire.