Cause determined in a 2-alarm fire at a Windward Oahu townhome

KANEOHE, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) -Honolulu firefighters rushed to a 2-alarm fire on Oahu’s Windward Side Saturday.

By Monday afternoon, HFD released details on what caused the fire.

Investigators said the fire was accidental. It was ignited by a torch that was being used for vegetation control which ignited nearby combustibles. HFD said damages were estimated at $366,000 total.

Upwards of nine units and 34 personnel were dispatched to the two-story townhouse complex on Hui Akepa Place around noon.

Smoke was seen coming from the roof of the structure, HFD said. A handful of residents in the units near the fire were able to safely escape without injury.

As firefighters investigated, they found the smoke and flames coming from behind the walls of a unit. It took HFD about 20 minutes to get the fire under control, and an hour to deem it fully extinguished.

A photo showed the fire did cause charring visible from the outside of the building.

The American Red Cross is assisting the residents.

No injuries were reported.