Kuliouou house fire leaves man in critical condition; woman, toddler and infant in serious condition

Honolulu firefighters are investigating the cause of a large fire that destroyed a home in East Oahu late Tuesday where a family of four including a toddler and infant suffered smoke inhalation, burns and cuts from broken glass.

Ten units with more than 35 firefighters responded to the fire at a residence at the end of Kuliouou Road located at the end of a narrow private road just before 11:45 p.m. Tuesday. The home is in proximity to Kuliouou Neighborhood Park.

When firefighters arrived, they observed a single-story structure fully engulfed in flames.

Honolulu Fire spokesman Capt. Jeffrey Roache said a family of four was home at the time and evacuated.

Emergency Medical Services treated and transported a 37-year-old man to a hospital in critical condition. A 32-year-old woman, 22-month-old boy and 6-month-old boy suffered second-degree burns and were taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition.

Roache said a family of three who live next door safely evacuated the area and did not sustain any injuries.

Firefighters brought the fire under control at about midnight and extinguished it just before 2:10 a.m. today.

Damage to the charred home was estimated at $175,500 to the structure and its contents. Roache said damage to three vehicles scorched in the fire was estimated at $20,000.