Dramatic nighttime fire strikes Aliamanu homes

Two homes were damaged, one destroyed, in a Wednesday night fire in Aliamanu.

Firefighters were dispatched at 6:31 p.m. and immediately called a second alarm. Flames could be seen coming from the home, which sits on a hill, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Terry Seelig.

Seven engine companies, two ladder companies and a rescue company responded, as well as two federal fire companies because of their proximity to the fire, he said.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 6:53 p.m. A two-story wooden and concrete structure at 4509 Likini St., where the fire started, was destroyed, and a cat died in the conflagration. The damage estimate was $380,000.

A two-story home next door, which sits at a higher elevation at 4513 Likini St., sustained $130,000 in damage, mostly to the outside where the siding burned.

Seelig said the American Red Cross was helping five adults who lived in the first home. Five people also lived in the home next door, but no one was hurt in either home.

Police Sgt. Paul Lucas said officers had to handcuff one man for his own safety after he became distraught about his home catching fire. Seelig said officers and firefighters had to detain the man after he tried to run back into the burning structure.

Neighbor Ross Sugahara Jr. said he could hear explosions coming from the back of the house where the fire appeared to have started and saw large tanks of fuel in the back yard when he went to tell the residents to get out.

A Wanaka Street resident, who would give only her first name, Remy, said she was watching television in her home when she heard noises that she thought were people slamming car doors in her garage. She went outside to find black smoke moving across the sky several yards from the fire and flames rising from the home.

"It was scary," she said. "Afterwards there was a big explosion and all the people from there came running down this side because it looked like there were fireworks all over."

Seelig said no large tanks exploded, but that the lids blew off some cans of solvent.

He said the heavily damaged home was a total loss.

Firefighters expected to return today to find the cause and estimate the damage.