Fire destroys lower Puna home

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A midday Thursday fire gutted an unpermitted 500-square-foot one-story house near the 24-mile marker of Chain of Craters Road in Kaimu.

According to a Fire Department statement, four units responded to the 11:50 a.m. alarm with the first unit arriving on scene 22 minutes later to find the structure fully involved in fire. The building collapsed shortly after their arrival.

Also burned were two vehicles and a small pile of tires and three pet geese were found dead in their cages

According to the statement, neighbors said the home’s owner was burning trash and left the scene unattended just prior to the fire.

The cause of the fire is undetermined. Estimated losses were $25,000 and the scene was turned over to police for investigation.