An unpermitted residential structure and garage with a vehicle inside were destroyed by fire Wednesday night in Puna, fire officials said Thursday.
According to a Hawaii Fire Department statement, nine units responded to an 8:53 p.m. alarm, with the first unit arriving at the property on Lehua Road in Nanawale Estates 11 minutes later.
Arriving firefighters found the structure and garage, which didn’t have electricity or county water, fully involved in flames. Neighbors report one of the residents was playing with fire, and all four occupants of the unpermitted home — which was described as having “bicycles, vehicles and other materials strewn about the perimeter of the structure” —are accounted for.
No injuries were reported.
The fire was reported under control at 9:14 p.m. and extinguished at 10:34 p.m.
The reported loss was $2,400 and the scene is under investigation by police and the fire inspector.