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Cause of Kailua house fire fatal to family’s cats remains undetermined

The Honolulu Fire Department has closed an investigation into Friday’s fire at a Kailua building, leaving the cause of the blaze undetermined.

The department received a 911 call on July 2 for a building fire at 343 Maluniu Ave. in Kailua. The fire originated in the bedroom of a rear unit where a mother and her adult son observed smoke and alerted emergency services.

The mother and son were able to escape the fire with no injuries. One cat died in the fire, and the two surviving cats succumbed to their injuries today.

The total damage from the fire amounted to about $380,000. The cost of the building damage was $360,000 and the contents of the home was worth $20,000.

There were no smoke alarms in the home.

The Honolulu Fire Department urged the public to install and maintain smoke alarms and noted that home fire sprinklers are effective at controlling fires, and use a fraction of the amount of water that would be used by firefighters.

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