Thursday, October 19, 2017

MARCO POLO CAUSE OF DEADLY FIRE UNDETERMINED: for the largest and deadliest high rise fire in Honolulu's history-- 30 units destroyed, $107 million dollars in damage, and four people dead.






"Cooking has been ruled out as cause of fire. Ignitable liquids were ruled out. Fire investigators have no evidence it was intentionally set. Fire investigators found no any evidence of a drug lab, or drug paraphernalia,"

It's a view that hard to get away from.

But the burnt scar on the Marco Polo building is a grim reminder of that fatal fire that burned for hours.

The images that day were powerful.


The largest and deadliest high rise fire in Our Honolulu's history-- 30 units destroyed, $107 million dollars in damage, and four people dead.

"It's somewhat unsatisfactory that we can't tell you the cause. We are going to tell you what we know," said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

Honolulu's fire chief tried to explain why after three months of analysis it has turned up with no clear cause of the fire.

"Cooking has been ruled out as cause of fire. Ignitable liquids were ruled out. Fire investigators have no evidence it was intentionally set. Fire investigators found no any evidence of a drug lab, or drug paraphernalia," said Fire Chief Manuel Neves.

Neves also said the department could not rule out smoking as a cause.

Investigators shared details of their probe including a list of items of interest.

Island News first reported the possibility of a malfunctioning air conditioner.

Investigators also looked at a lap computer, a desk top computer and outlets where cell phones may have been charging.

They also noted a gas cylinder and butane cylinder used in making jewelry,

"We are seeing these electrical concerns, but we can’t pinpoint, or say this caused this fire," Battalion Chief Jeff Hooker, who was the captain in charge of the investigation.

And HFD also noted the electrical panel.

"We had some real unsymmetrical fire damage in the electrical panel. It just starts to send out red flags but because of the fragile nature of these items, we didn’t go any farther into this it just becomes a concern. It becomes one of the possible things we just pass it on to other investigators that come in behind us," said Hooker.

HFD's investigative report included statements from the three occupants of #2602 where the fire started.

Island News was the first to interview tenant Jeffrey Rockett who described seeing the floor burst into flames.

In their harrowing escape from the burning unit, HFD said the tenants could not say if the fire door shut behind them.

Other experts will continue looking at the evidence. HFD said it may reopen its investigation if new information is found.