KAILUA-KONA — Live arcing power lines and lack of water access made it difficult for firefighters to battle a structure fire in North Kohala Sunday night.
Hawaii Fire Department firefighters first got the call about the blaze on Kapaau Road at 7 p.m. When they arrived on scene five minutes later, crews found a single-family home engulfed in flames and partially collapsed, according to a press release.
Eighteen Hawaii Firefighters responded to the scene as well as four volunteer firefighters. Battalion Chief John Whitman said it appeared the home had been burning for quite some time before they received the call.
The homeowner was off the island at the time of the fire. No pets or livestock were injured.
Whitman said the home was probably built in the 1930s and was isolated. There were no fire hydrants in the area, forcing crews to shuttle water to the scene.
Whitman said the fire caused power lines to come down. The live arc lines blocked the main entrance of the home, forcing firefighters to access the residence from the side to fight the fire.
Whitman said there were multiple large propane tank explosions and a pickup truck was also destroyed in the flames. Nearby trees also caught fire, but they were quickly put out.
It took about four hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
Between the home and its contents, Whitman estimated the damage to be $150,000. No other homes or properties in the area were damaged.
Whitman said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. He added they are unsure how or where the fire started.