Ewa Beach man dies in predawn house fire

A man was found dead Saturday morning after firefighters extinguished a house fire in Ewa Beach.

Honolulu Fire Capt. James Todd said the fire was reported at 4:38 a.m. and was in a two-story home at 91-1050 Pololia St.

About 35 firefighters responded to the single-family dwelling and found flames coming from the back of the second floor. Arriving firefighters were told a man was still in the house.

Firefighters brought the fire under control at 4:58 a.m., containing the fire to the room of its origin, where firefighters found the man’s lifeless body.

Todd Rittershausen, who lives next door, said he was awakened by the sound of a large crash, like someone breaking a big sheet of glass.

He called 911 after his wife said it was a fire and then went outside to see flames shooting from the side bedroom window, lapping at the eaves along the side of the house.

He grabbed a hose in case the fire came closer, but firefighters arrived and knocked down the flames quickly.

Later he found the yellow curtains from the bedroom in his backyard and bits of glass all along the side of his house facing the burned bedroom. Some of the glass ended up in his backyard about 30 feet or more away.

Todd said a family of five adults was in the house when the fire started and most were alerted to the fire by a smoke detector. They tried to alert the deceased, but his room was locked, and they evacuated when the heat became too intense.

No other injuries were reported.

During the afternoon, family members were going through items in the home. A family member said the man’s relatives were distraught and declined further comment.

Firefighters were trying to determine the cause of the fire and estimated damage at $200,000.