Police continue inquiry of Liliha fire

Police are looking for more information about the cause of Wednesday’s house fire in Liliha that killed a 78-year-old man and displaced 22 people, including four children.

The fire at 1909 Liliha St. started at about 12:30 a.m., and Fire Department investigators determined that it was intentionally set.

The city medical examiner’s office said the victim died of thermal burns, along with systemic heart disease.

Sources identified the man as Clarence Isobe, a retired Army veteran whose poor hearing might have prevented him from hearing warnings and getting out of the house in time.

Death of Hilo man being investigated

Hawaii County police are investigating the death of a 57-year-old Hilo man who was found unconscious in a private parking lot in downtown Hilo.

Police identified the man as Roy Lemon.

Police and fire personnel found Lemon lying unresponsive in a Keawe Street parking lot at 7:23 a.m. yesterday with an apparent head injury.

Rescue personnel took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:27 a.m.