Last Sunday, the Kaua‘i Fire Department tackled a structure fire at the Thrifty Mini Mart in Kekaha, successfully extinguishing it before midnight. Fire crews from Waimea, Hanapēpē, and Kalāheo, along with the Fire Prevention Bureau and an on-duty Battalion Chief, were dispatched following a report of the fire shortly after 7:45 p.m. According to a report by the County of Kaua‘i, they encountered smoke emanating from the roof upon their arrival just five minutes later.
Displaying commendable efficiency, the firefighters launched an offensive attack against the blaze, locating and vanquishing it inside the Mini Mart's attic space. During the incident, one individual feeling faint was assessed by AMR personnel on the scene, yet they did not require hospital transport. There were no injuries reported, providing a small relief amidst the commotion and the damage.
Following the suppression of the flames, the KFD Fire Prevention Bureau investigators took over to unravel what sparked the conflagration. Firefighters eventually cleared the scene shortly before 12:30 a.m. yesterday. In a statement made by the county's official website, damages incurred by the structure and its contents are tallied at an estimated $308,000. Yet, what ignited the fire remains tucked away in the shadows of investigation.
