Papipi Drive house fire ruled intentionally set

A fire that destroyed a Papipi Drive home in Ewa Beach on Tuesday afternoon appears to have been intentionally set, Honolulu fire investigators determined.

The blaze caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the older, three-bedroom house and its contents, including a boat and a truck, said Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman. The fire caused an additional $20,000 in damage to other areas, including the sides of the two houses adjoining the house, as well as two cars left near the property, Seelig said.

Seelig said it is believed the fire started in the house’s car port, and then spread into the house.

A family of four was left homeless by the fire. No one was injured and no one was home during the blaze, Seelig said.

The call first came in at 2:23 p.m. Firefighters arrived a short time later to see the home totally engulfed in flames, he said. It was brought under control at 2:40 p.m. and extinguished about 3:26 p.m.

In an unrelated fire that happened in Ewa six hours later, fire investigators concluded that they cannot determine the cause of a 50-acre brush fire at a large vacant field at Fort Weaver and Renton roads, Seelig said. The blaze, which began about 9:30 p.m., came within 100 feet of several Ewa By Gentry homes.