WAINIHA — All that remains of a fire on Anahulu Road on Monday is the frame of a two-story house, the staircase leading up, large metal appliances like the stove, and a charred red pickup truck in the driveway.
WAINIHA — All that remains of a fire on Anahulu Road on Monday is the frame of a two-story house, the staircase leading up, large metal appliances like the stove, and a charred red pickup truck in the driveway.
The cause of the fire that displaced five people is under investigation, according to a county press release. Nobody was home at the time and there were no injuries reported.
Neighbor Joy Kolitsch heard popping around 3 p.m. that she assumed was fireworks.
“Then the popping kept going like popcorn,” she said. By the time she stepped outside, the house next door was engulfed in flames.
Kolitsch watched the fire with a group of neighbors down the street.
“It went up really fast,” she said. “It’s a miracle it went straight up (and didn’t spread).”
Personnel from the Kaiakea and Hanalei fire stations, rescue personnel from Lihu‘e, the Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau, Kaua‘i Police Department, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and American Medical Response all responded.
Padraic Gallagher, director of disaster services for the American Red Cross of Kaua‘i, said volunteers responded to help the affected individuals Monday night. Case workers are following up and will help with the recovery process.
The scene was cleared by 5:20 p.m. Damages are estimated at $300,000, the press release said.
A GoFundMe account has been started to help the family. As of Tuesday afternoon the fund had reached $250.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
The day before there was an unattended death in Wainiha. Was this related?