A fire at a Waikīkī high-rise last Saturday was caused by an electrical issue with a power cord to a chest freezer. The incident resulted in about $15,000 in damages, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.
The Honolulu Fire Department responded to an emergency call at 4:56 p.m., arriving six minutes later. An off-duty firefighter initially fought the fire on the 16th floor until the on-duty crew arrived. By 5:09 p.m., the fire was fully extinguished, and it was confirmed that no one was inside the affected unit. The initial report stated that 13 units and 52 personnel were dispatched to handle the fire.
An investigation on Monday found that "the fire was caused by an electrical arc from a power cord connected to a chest freezer." The Honolulu Fire Department advised that appliances should be plugged directly into wall outlets to prevent such incidents. The fire did not result in any injuries or fatalities.
