Brittany Kiko, employee at The Isles Cafe next to the Suisan Fish Market in Hilo, said she was shocked when she heard one of Suisan’s buildings caught fire Thursday night.
“I thought it was crazy,” she said.
Hawaii County emergency response officials battled the blaze from 10:32 p.m. Thursday until 3:30 a.m. Friday, according to a press release.
Stephens Media Hawaii arrived at the scene at 11 p.m. Thursday and found fire trucks, police cars and ambulances lining the road across from Hilo International Airport off Kamehameha Avenue. Drivers stopped to check out the fire, as it engulfed the 106-year-old food distribution company’s business and management offices.
Battalion Chief Jerry Lum arrived at the scene Friday morning. He said crews were out all night and officials were at the scene working to determine the blaze’s cause.
Nobody was injured, according to the fire department press release.
Barbara Hastings, media liaison for Suisan Company Ltd., issued a press release stating the company and its insurer had not determined the extent of damage or the cause.
She said the impacted building, the main office structure there, encompassed 16,000 square feet and less than a third, 5,000 square feet, was used for dry and frozen overflow storage.
The fresh seafood operation was not damaged, she said, and the company’s fresh food supply should be unaffected.
Suisan representatives said the impact of the fire will not disrupt the company’s operations, all telecommunications are currently operational and Hilo calls are being transferred to the company’s Kona office.
In a Friday press release, Glenn Hashimoto, Suisan’s president, said, “No one was injured, so we are thankful. We are resilient and will work things out.”
The Hilo-based company has deep roots in the community, and Hashimoto, who was at the scene Friday morning, said he “couldn’t say enough” about the efforts of emergency response officials.
“Some of them have been out here all night,” he said.
In a statement, he also thanked the Big Island community for its support during this difficult time.
“We must add that we are moved by the outpouring of support and kind words that have come to us from our customers, vendors, the business community, including competitors. Mahalo to our Hawaii Island community,” he said.
Suisan currently employs 175 people on the Big Island and serves area hotels, supermarkets, schools and restaurants, as well as global customers.
Toby Taniguchi, vice president of KTA, said he first heard about the fire from a Nixle alert sent to his phone by police.
“I didn’t know what was going on until this morning when I checked the news,” he said. “It’s devastating; it’s unfortunate. But first and foremost, I’m happy that nobody was hurt.”
“We will do anything on our side to help them. Anything we can do, we’re willing and able,” he said.
Suisan has expanded several times since it first opened as Sui San Kabushiki Kaisha in 1907. The company saw its first growth spurt in 1950, when its fish exports increased to neighboring islands and the mainland. Suisan expanded again in 1970, when it opened its westside division. Its current annual gross sales total $81 million.
Email Megan Moseley at mmoseley@hawaiitribune-herald.com.