Firefighters extinguish suspicious structure fire on New Year’s Day
Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters extinguished a suspicious fire at the Kai Olino affordable housing project, currently in construction in ‘Ele‘ele, on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
The structure was unoccupied and no injuries were reported.
Firefighters from the Kalāheo and Hanapēpē fire stations were dispatched to the structure fire located on Olali Street in ‘Ele‘ele shortly after midnight on Wednesday.
According to a preliminary report, fire personnel arrived on scene and found pieces of wood on fire at the base of the building’s exterior. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and found no signs of fire extension in the building.
Fire inspectors with the Kaua‘i Fire Prevention Bureau arrived on scene and continued to investigate the cause of the fire. Personnel noticed the pieces of wood that were on fire were neatly placed at the corner of the burnt structure, and an exterior window had been shattered. Officials believe the fire was intentionally set.
Damages to the structure and its contents are estimated at $15,000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1711. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 808-246-8300, submitting a tip at cskauai.org, or through the Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i P3 Tips Mobile App.
Kai Olino is a privately-owned affordable housing project currently in development in the Port Allen area of ‘Ele‘ele. The project will eventually provide 75 new housing units, across three separate buildings, for the people of Kaua‘i.
