In the early hours of Friday, a fire broke out at the Unitek Solvent Services facility in Kapolei, prompting a swift response from the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD). According to information released by the HFD, the emergency call was made at 2:49 a.m., leading to the deployment of extensive resources to combat the blaze, including 16 HFD units, four Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) trucks, and approximately 71 personnel. The HFD’s statement revealed that visible flames were seen from a distance as the first responders were en route, prompting the incident to be upgraded to a second alarm.
The responders discovered the source of the fire to be a diesel fuel tank, which had flames emitting from its rear upon their arrival. During the frantic efforts to extinguish the fire, which was confirmed to involve one of four 2,000-gallon tanks, firefighters worked diligently and alongside employees successfully evacuated from the site. Crews from HFD and ARFF joined forces to launch an offensive exterior fire attack, where the ARFF's turrets played a crucial role by applying foam—ensuring safety, the fuel system was secured first before personnel employed handlines and the leaking fuel had been contained.
As a result of these combined efforts, the fire's containment reached 75 percent by 4:22 a.m. and was completely extinguished by 8:45 a.m., as reported by the official communication from HFD. Remarkably, throughout the incident, no injuries were reported among the fire department personnel. Aside from the main tank, the fire also spread to ignite several smaller fires in nearby 55-gallon drums, but they were quickly mitigated by fire attack crews to prevent escalation.
Currently, the investigation into the origin, cause, and estimated damages of the fire is underway, led by an HFD Fire Investigator. Further updates will be issued once the final investigation report is available, assured by the Honolulu Fire Department. Information on this and more will be available on the HFD's official website. While containing up to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel, each of the facility's four tanks, symbolized an immense potential danger that was averted thanks to the coordinated action of the multiple firefighting units in play.
