Electrical appliances faulted in 2 blazes

Two recent residential fires were caused by electrical appliance malfunctions, Honolulu Fire Department investigations have concluded.

A fire at 790 Kaipii St. in Kailua on Dec. 16 was caused by a malfunction in a video game console battery charger, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. The fire spread throughout the house from a cabinet in a living room in the rear of the home, causing $400,000 in damage, he said.

A malfunctioning hand-held electric massager is to blame for a fire Wednesday at 434 Launiu St. in Waikiki, Seelig said. That fire spread through the bottom-floor unit into a rental unit on the second floor, causing about $450,000 in damage, he said.

Seelig said consumers should regularly clean and inspect electrical appliances for signs of deterioration or damage.

Suspect is charged in 2 bank robberies

A homeless man suspected in two Oahu bank robberies this week made his first appearance in U.S. District Court Friday.

James Stephen Otten, 36, was charged by federal prosecutors with two counts of bank robbery. The Liliha branch of First Hawaiian Bank was robbed Tuesday, and the Haleiwa branch of First Hawaiian was robbed Wednesday.

According to court documents, $500 was stolen from the Liliha branch at about 8:34 a.m. Tuesday. A teller told investigators that a man walked up to her window and handed her a note that read, "I need $3500 now." When she wrote back on the same note that she could give him only $500, he told her "OK" and "hurry up," court documents said.

The robber walked out of the bank with the cash and fled on foot, court documents said.

Following the Haleiwa robbery, a teller told investigators a man handed her a note that read, "I need $3900 now," court documents said. She gave him all the cash in her drawer, which amounted to $1,724.

Cash stolen from 2 Salvation Army kettles

A thief broke into the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Hilo Thursday night and stole all the cash donations inside two kettles, the organization said. The money had not been counted, but thrift store manager Dio Parong estimated the loss at about $50, based on daily collections.

Parong said the store’s closets and drawers were opened, as if someone was looking specifically for cash. None of the store’s valuable items, including jewelry and koa wood pieces, was taken, the organization said. The Salvation Army reported the theft to police.

Blaze erupts from stove left on too long

A small dog died Thursday in a Pearl City townhouse fire that started after the occupants forgot to turn off a stove burner before leaving, an official said.

The heat from the stove eventually ignited packaging on a nearby counter top, and the flames spread to cabinets above, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. When the first firefighters arrived, they found flames rolling across the kitchen ceiling toward more cabinets.

Two fire companies contained the 3:20 p.m. fire at Hoohiki Place to the kitchen and brought it under control in about 10 minutes. A dog on the second floor died in the smoke.

Seelig said the fire caused about $16,000 in damage.