Waianae building fire intentionally set, HFD says

An early-morning fire at an abandoned building in Waianae was intentionally set, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched at 1:14 a.m. today to a building fire at 85-555 Farrington Highway in the Waianae area. The first unit arrived two minutes later and found a two-story abandoned structure fully involved in flames, the fire department said.

Eight units staffed with 24 personnel responded to the scene. Firefighters secured a water supply and launched an offensive fire attack, bringing the blaze under control at 1:23 a.m.

The fire was declared fully extinguished at 2:50 a.m., officials said.

A fire investigator later determined the blaze was incendiary, meaning it was intentionally set. Damage to the structure was estimated at $2,000.

The fire department reminded the public that working smoke alarms are essential in every building, providing early warning and more time to escape during a fire.