The investigation into the fires that damaged multiple buildings in Downtown Hilo remains ongoing, as local authorities continue working to piece together the events of early Sunday morning. According to a report from Hawai'i police, the South Hilo patrol officers, along with Hawai’i Fire Department (HFD) personnel, were called to address the conflagrations that ultimately consumed four structures on Kino’ole Street and Keawe Street.
Despite the early hour, first responders quickly leapt into action to hurriedly evacuate people from both the burning buildings and adjacent residential areas. The combined efforts of police and fire personnel ensured that everyone in the vicinity was moved to safety. During a thorough search of the fire sites conducted late Sunday afternoon, Hawai’i Fire Department inspectors confirmed that, thankfully, no human remains were found, and no missing persons reports have been filed in connection with the fires.
Further details provided by the officials indicated a lack of clear evidence to suggest any foul play. No accelerants were found at the scenes, leaving the cause of the destructive fires currently labeled as undetermined. Even as detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section begin to thoroughly review footage from nearby business surveillance cameras, the origin of the flames remains a mystery yet to be solved.
All previously closed streets in Downtown Hilo have now been reopened, allowing life to slowly resume its usual pace. The police department has expressed their gratitude towards the public's patience and understanding as emergency teams worked tirelessly in the area. They now seek assistance from the community and have asked anybody with pertinent information to step forward to help potentially close to fully understand this incident. Detective Sybastian Keltner, part of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section, can be reached at (808) 961-2378 or by email at [email protected], for individuals willing to provide insights into the case.
