Hawai‘i County police are investigating a pair of fires that killed two and destroyed five buildings in Hilo over the Thanksgiving weekend.
On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 29, Hawai‘i County’s police and fire departments responded to a building fire in midtown Hilo. When they arrived on the scene, they found the former Pu‘u‘eo Poi Factory building, which had been converted into low-income apartments, fully engulfed in flames.
After the fire was extinguished, fire department personnel investigated the ruins and discovered human remains in two separate parts of the building. While their identities are currently being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, the deceased are believed to be two women who lived in the building, one aged 72 and the other aged 56.
Autopsies will determine the victims’ exact cause of death later this week.
Beyond the two deaths, 28 other residents were displaced by the fire. HPD stated that the building has been determined to be a total loss, and the county is working with the American Red Cross and local nonprofit Hope Services Hawai‘i to aid the former residents.
But less than 24 hours later, another, even larger fire struck the heart of Downtown Hilo, although one that left no casualties.
A fire at the corner of Kino‘ole and Haili streets in Downtown Hilo was reported just before 1 a.m. Sunday morning, which soon left four buildings ablaze, including the historic Goo Building, built in 1942.
While all four buildings were destroyed, no human remains were found in the wreckage. HCPD stated Monday that there have been no reports of any residents unaccounted for.
Nonetheless, seven residents were also displaced by the Sunday fires, and dozens of others were forced to evacuate. Once again, Red Cross and Hope Services, along with nonprofit Vibrant Hawai‘i and the Salvation Army, provided shelters for those displaced.
Evacuees were allowed to return home Sunday evening. All roads closed by the fires were reopened by Monday afternoon as crews continued to clear the Downtown fire.
“On behalf of the County of Hawaiʻi, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those we lost,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said in a statement. “I want to express my profound gratitude to our first responders who worked tirelessly and courageously this weekend to protect life and property. Your service is invaluable … These fires remind us that our greatest strength lies in our dedication to our community and compassion for those in need.”
While the causes of both fires are still under investigation, fire investigators have reported no evidence of foul play or the use of fire accelerants. Police detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from businesses surrounding the Downtown fire.
Aloha State Daily reached out to the Hawai‘i County Mayor’s Office for further comment.
