LIHUE — An early morning fire at the Kapaa Supercuts is under investigation as arson. The Kauai Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the Kauai Shopping Village in Kapaa around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday. The building’s sprinkler
LIHUE — An early morning fire at the Kapaa Supercuts is under investigation as arson.
The Kauai Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the Kauai Shopping Village in Kapaa around 3:45 a.m. Wednesday. The building’s sprinkler system had extinguished the blaze by the time firefighters arrived.
Supercuts Manager Cliff Caberto said it appeared the burglars failed in their attempt to open a safe. The keypad combination plate was damaged but nothing appeared to have been stolen.
“There was about two inches of water throughout the entire salon,” Caberto said. “We will likely be closed until the middle of next week to complete the cleaning and repairs.”
Fire officials believe the blaze may have been intentionally set. It is not known why the burglars started a fire using paper in a plastic filing cabinet in the back office. The fire was contained to the backroom but triggered the sprinkler system. The front door was also broken open by responders.
Fire and water damage to the salon and its contents is estimated at $60,000.
The salon employs eight stylists. The scheduling and accounting computer up front was not damaged, but the manager’s computer in the back was destroyed, along with most of the office equipment.
Mike Wallace, owner of The Professionals Kauai, a rescue services business that is conducting the cleanup, said most of the damage was caused by the sprinklers. All items will be removed from the salon for thermal fogging and will be treated with ozone to get rid of the smoky smell.
Neighboring retailers sustained water damage. GNC was open on Wednesday with a floor fan running. Tropical Dreams Ice Cream remained closed.
Kauai Police Department was notified by firefighters that the salon’s back door was ajar, according to a county news release. There have been no arrests.
This is the fifth break-in at the salon, with the most recent last April 2013, when someone pried open the back door and stole some stylist equipment after failing to remove the cemented safe.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Christian Jenkins at 241-1680 or Police Dispatch, 241-1711. Anonymous tipsters may call CrimeStoppers at 241-1887.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
