Arson suspected in fire at Zippy’s Kapahulu
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
A scorched shopping cart remains along Hoolulu Street next to Zippy’s in Kapahulu. The early-morning blaze gutted the restaurant’s kitchen.
Honolulu police have opened a first-degree arson investigation after an unknown suspect allegedly set a shopping cart on fire next to Zippy’s Kapahulu, forcing its closure for weeks.
Nine units with 40 firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire at 601 Kapahulu Ave. shortly before 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
When they arrived, crews found smoke and flames emanating from the inside of the restaurant, the Honolulu Fire Department said.
Zippy’s was closed at the time of the fire.
Fire crews brought the blaze under control just before 12:15 a.m. and extinguished it an hour later. No injuries were reported.
Police said there are no arrests at this time.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
Kevin Yim, vice president of marketing and communications of FCH Enterprises Inc., the parent company of Zippy’s Restaurants, said, “The storage room was damaged extensively.”
The kitchen also sustained some damage, forcing the restaurant to shut down on Friday.
Flames also damaged a portion of the outer wall on the mauka side of the restaurant. A burned shopping cart with charred items within the cart was seen right next to the wall.
Yim said the restaurant will be closed for at least a couple of weeks for repairs.
