A man released from jail Monday is suspected of intentionally starting a fire at the old Hilo jail hours after his release.
A man released from jail Monday is suspected of intentionally starting a fire at the old Hilo jail hours after his release.
Daniel J. Blust, a 33-year-old Hilo man, was apprehended by officers of the Hilo Community Correctional Center while reportedly attempting to flee the scene of a fire on the second floor of an unoccupied building at the center.
The fire was reported at 6:40 p.m. at the old jail building, which sits outside of the active jail’s perimeter fence and is used primarily for storage. When firefighters responded to the blaze, a man emerged from a burning cell in the building and attempted to flee past responders.
The man was apprehended and identified as Blust. Charges of arson, theft, burglary and property damage are pending against him.
Blust had been jailed since Sept. 26 but was released mere hours before the fire started.
Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, said Blust was convicted of trespassing, contempt of court and shoplifting Monday based on incidents in April and September but was released because he already was detained for a period sufficient to his sentence.
Blust’s previous charges were all misdemeanors. His pending arson charge, however, is a Class A felony, carrying a minimum possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
Lt. Miles Chong with the Hawaii Police Department said investigators do not suspect the fire was intended to destroy specific documents or items, but added the investigation is ongoing.
While Blust was determined to have forced open a door to the building, Chong said police have not determined precisely how the fire began. However, because of the building’s purpose as a storage facility, Chong said many cells hold “a lot of old papers” which quickly ignited, spreading the blaze throughout the second floor.
Three fire engines responded to the scene, said Darwin Okinaka, Hawaii Fire Department battalion chief. Okinaka added that the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of firefighters’ arrival.
Chong said the entire second floor of the building sustained damage, whether by fire, smoke or water.
Blust also is suspected of breaking into and taking items from vehicles in the jail’s parking lot. Chong said the extent of the missing items is unknown, but acknowledged that at least one vehicle was damage as a result.
Chong said police have not determined whether Blust acted alone.
Although Blust was uninjured in the fire, one correctional facility officer was treated for smoke inhalation while another received treatment for a laceration suffered while fighting the fire.
Blust is being detained several yards away from the scene of the fire, at the active Hilo jail, while the investigation continues.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.