Blaze destroys home on Maui; occupants escape injury
Fire destroyed a two-story home in Haiku, Maui, early Friday morning.
Firefighters responding to a 3:42 a.m. call found the single-family residence engulfed in flames but were able to keep the fire from spreading to a second house on the lot, according to a Maui Fire Department report. All three occupants of the home were able to evacuate safely. No injuries were reported.
The second house sustained minor damage to its exterior.
The cause of the fire has been classified as accidental. Damage was estimated at $300,000.
Victim of fire is identified
Hawaii island police have identified the man who died in a New Years’s Eve house fire in Captain Cook as 67-year-old Dale Gorrell of Hawaii Ocean View Estates.
The cause of death is still undetermined pending toxicology results.
Police do not suspect foul play.
Man charged in car break-in
A 30-year-old Kailua-Kona man was charged Friday with a car break-in at a Kona beach.
According to Hawaii island police, a witness saw a man break into a car at Kua Bay and remove items from the vehicle Wednesday. The witness then followed the suspect, who drove to Waikoloa Beach Road, parked his car and fled on foot.
Following an investigation, police arrested Keoni Yamada on Thursday. On Friday, Yamada was charged with unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, two counts of theft, and violating terms of release on bail for a methamphetamine trafficking case that is scheduled to go to trial next week. Bail was set at $80,000.