Fire destroys Pahoa home

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Wednesday evening fire that destroyed a home in Pahoa.

Responding to the 6 p.m. report, firefighters arrived at 15-0418 Kahakai Boulevard in Pahoa to find a two-story, 2,000-square-foot home ablaze, according to a Hawaii Fire Department press release.

Witnesses reported that before the fire broke out a woman was seen entering the single-family, wood-framed structure before hearing a loud “boom.” The woman then ran away from the house and flames were visible a short time later, according to the department.

The owner reported that squatters had been living in the house and that they had been told to vacate the property a few days earlier.

Firefighters declared the fire out at 6:50 p.m. The home was deemed a complete loss at $230,000.