Salt Lake fire displaces 4 residents, causes more than $600,000 in damage

A large residential fire this morning displaced four residents, damaged surrounding structures and temporarily closed a section of Salt Lake Boulevard.

Nine units with 34 firefighters responded to the fire at 3602 Salt Lake Boulevard at 9:23 a.m. When they arrived, firefighters found a residence with smoke coming from the front of the building.

Honolulu Battalion Chief Paul Miguel said about 25 percent of the structure was burning when firefighters arrived, but winds fanned the flames and the blaze rapidly engulfed the wooden structure.

Neighbor Ruguine Aspiras said she had just arrived at work and turned on her computer when her neighbor alerted her to the fire. “I thought it was a Friday the 13th joke when I got the text,” she said. Aspiras immediately left her office and headed home.

She said the fire broke out at a two-bedroom duplex at 3602-A Salt Lake Boulevard.

Honolulu Fire Department officials said four occupants — two adult males, one adult female and one child — were home at the time of the fire and were able to evacuate. Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and assessed two men, ages 21 and 26, but both refused to be taken to a hospital.

The American Red Cross said it was assisting displaced residents.

Police closed Salt Lake Boulevard from Wanaka Street to Likini Place as firefighters battled the fire. HFD spokesman Capt. Kevin Mokulehua said the blaze was brought under control at 10:01 a.m. and extinguished at 11:17 a.m.

Fire damage was estimated at $483,200 to the structure and $95,000 to the contents, HFD said. Three structures surrounding the burned residence also sustained about $50,000 worth of damage, according to HFD.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.