Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Friday evening structure fire that destroyed a home in an upper part of the Seaview Circle subdivision of Kailua-Kona.
Responding to the 7:01 p.m. alarm, firefighters arrived to find a two-story home engulfed in flames, according to the Hawaii County FireDepartment. At the time, the fire was threatening neighboring homes, however, firefighters were able to get the fire under control in less than 30 minutes and extinguished by 10:04 p.m.
The department said a neighbor reported hearing an explosion and then saw flames emanating from windows on the wooden home’ssecond floor.
Charlene Hauber, who lives two streets above the subdivision, said she was alerted by the smoke and sound of fire trucks.
“It was like a fireball down there,” Hauber said. “The flames at the time looked like the tail end of fireworks.”
No one was home at the time of the fire, firefighters reported. The home was insured.
During the fire, traffic was detoured via the southern side of Seaview Circle.