WAIPAHU, Hawaii -
Investigators: Fire intentionally set at Waipahu home Posted: Aug 25, 2016 4:15 AM EST Updated: Aug 25, 2016 11:24 PM EST
By Roger Mari
Fire crews got the call to a two-alarm fire just after 5 p.m. Wednesday in Waipahu. Although it took them about 10 minutes to get the fire under control, it caused two people to be without a home.
Investigators say the fire was intentionally set. The case has been turned over to police as an arson case.
"If you put it on a scale of 1-to-10, an 8," says Waipahu resident Brigido Daproza.
This is how Daproza describes how scared he was. He lives next door to the house that caught fire. Nine fire companies arrived with 35 personnel to extinguish the flames at a 2-story residential building.
"And I was scared because my house might get burned too," says Daproza.
It was an unsettling scene as other neighbors came home to see fire trucks on Waikele Road. The fire happened at 94-083 Waikele Loop.
"When I came from Walmart, all I saw is big black smoke so i parked my car down there and all I saw was smoke coming out of this house," says Waipahu resident Tony Malubay.
Fire personnel established command, secured a water source and began fight the flames. The fire was fully extinguished by 6:13 p.m.. Jurry Batangan lives across the street and called 911 as soon as he saw smoke coming out of the house.
"They responded right away so, I'm glad, I really appreciate the Honolulu Fire Department,"says Batangan.
Two people were in the house when the fire started, fire officials say. They were alerted to the fire by the odor of smoke and were able to escape without injury.
"They're lucky, yeah they're lucky," says Daproza.
Some neighbors say there is always what they describe as suspicious activity going on at that home and they say police have responded to their complaints sometimes 3-to-4 times a week. Still, on occasion, Batangan has offered the residents assistance.
"I help them, the two that left, they haven't had water for I don't know how many months and electricity and I don't know how they live there," says Batangan.
Fire investigators remained on scene until sundown. The American Red Cross arrived to assist those affected. Damage was estimated at $210,000.
