A fire at Waianae Boat Harbor last week damaged a 35-foot boat but was quickly put out by the Honolulu Fire Department and nearby bystanders. The HFD received the emergency call at 10:03 p.m. last Friday, February 28, and firefighters arrived within five minutes to find civilians already working to fight the flames.
The blaze, contained predominantly to the boat's stern, was controlled by 10:10 p.m. and fully doused by 10:40 p.m., thanks in part to bystanders' swift action using a hose and a fire extinguisher from the dock. In total, 9 units staffed with 28 HFD personnel reportedly responded to the incident. An unforeseen twist in the rescue operations involved the discovery of two dogs aboard the vessel, where, despite the valiant efforts of firefighters to resuscitate the animals; one dog succumbed to its injuries, and the other was later reunited with its owners.
Following the fire, Honolulu Fire Department has launched an investigation to determine its origin, cause, and the extent of the damage. The final report is still pending, but the department has promised to provide an update once the investigation is complete.
