BRUCE ASATO / basato@staradvertiser.com
Firefighters worked Sunday to douse smoldering parts of a fire at the rear of a house in Kaimuki.
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A 48-year-old man escaped injury as fire gutted a single-story Kaimuki home Sunday evening.
Ten Honolulu Fire Department units responded to the fire at 3028 Kaimuki Ave., which was first reported at about 5:50 p.m. and brought under control by 6:13 p.m., according to HFD spokesman Capt. Chris Ah Mook Sang.
The man, who lives with his mother, was the only person in the house at the time of the fire. He was able to exit the house unharmed.
The cause of the fire had not been determined Sunday night. Witnesses said the blaze appeared to start at the back of the residence.
Lauren Payne, 24, who lives directly across the street from the home, said she didn’t think anything was unusual when she smelled smoke.
"People barbecue every weekend around here, so I didn’t think anything of it," she said. "And then I heard the sirens."
Payne said went outside and saw small flames coming from one side of the back of the house. Within minutes, she said, the house was engulfed in flames. "I went really, really fast," she said.
In addition to the house, a car parked in the carport was damaged by the fire. Damage estimates were unavailable.
Police closed Kaimuki Avenue in both directions from 5th to Kapahulu avenues.
