Students safely evacuate after fire breaks out in Kaneohe preschool
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a building fire at Rainbow School Kaneohe, located at 45-211 Waikalua Rd.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
A gutted classroom at the one story structure.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
A HFD investigator amongst the charred furniture in front of a gutted classroom in the one story structure.
Children were inside a private preschool building when a fire broke out today in Kaneohe, a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said.
HFD spokesman Capt. Jeff Roache said the children were safely evacuated to Benjamin Parker Elementary School.
The children, however, were not inside the classroom that was left charred by the blaze. Only blackened contents including tike-sized tables and chairs remained.
The Rainbow School Kaneohe’s once brightly-colored rainbow sign, was charcoal black. The towering tree’s leaves roughly 30 feet high were scorched.
Firefighters responded to a fire at 2:19 p.m. located at 45-211 Waikalua Rd., near the Kaneohe Police Station.
Nine HFD units with 34 personnel found a one-story school building with flames and smoke visible, spotting the blaze even while en route to the scene.
Crews made a search and reported all occupants were clear of the building.
HFD investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire or an estimate of damage to the school building.
The first company arrived at 2:21 p.m. and the fire was brought under control at 2:27 p.m. It was extinguished at 2:46 p.m.
The Rainbow School website says it serves the needs of young children ages 2 to 5 years old.
