Fire causes $400,000 damage to Kalihi businesses
Police tape marks the building at 156 Mokauea Street in Kalihi where an early morning fire caused $400,000 damage to three businesses housed in the building.
Honolulu firefighters extinguished a fire in a building that housed three businesses in Kalihi.
The fire broke out at 12:40 a.m. at 156 Mokauea Street where a mochi shop, hula supply store and car audio business are located, said Capt. Terry Seelig, the Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.
Firefighters saw "heavy smoke and flames visible," when they arrived on scene about four minutes after the alarm, Seelig said.
"They were able to stop it (the fire) from spreading, but it had gotten a lot of radiated heat up into the attic," Seelig said.
It took 40 firefighters, 5 engines and 2 ladders about three hours to extinguish the fire because firefighters had to peel off layers of roofing material to cool down smoldering wooden sheeting on the roof.
Firefighters then used foam to cool the roof down, Seelig said.
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The fire appears to have started in the rear of the building and caused about $400,000 damage to the businesses — Koele’s Ono Mochi, Ohana Shells and Hula Supply and Car Audio Evolution, Seelig said. Three vehicles in back of the building were also damaged.
