Hawaiʻi Island police are currently investigating a recent structure fire in Captain Cook, which engulfed a residence in flames earlier this week. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, brought Kona patrol officers to the 87-400 block of Kaohe Road at 3:18 p.m. after receiving reports of the fire, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department. Reports confirmed that by the time authorities had arrived, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department was already in the process of vigorously putting out the inferno. The fire was extinguished at 3:56 p.m.
As it stands, the cause behind the blaze remains a mystery, and officials have yet to conclude whether arson played any part. Investigators have shared that there were no injuries reported in the wake of the fire, leaving them to continue their probe unencumbered by concerns for the community's immediate safety. However, the financial impact of the fire has yet to be assessed, as the estimated cost of damages is still being determined.
In an effort to shed light on this incident and gather more information, Kona Patrol Officer Gerardo Ibarra is taking the lead, and the police department is urging public cooperation. Those who might have knowledge relevant to the fire are encouraged to come forward. Officer Ibarra can be reached directly at the police department's non-emergency line, (808) 935-3311, or through email at [email protected], as mentioned in their statement.
In line with procedures designed to protect informant anonymity, tipsters looking to securely contribute to the investigation may instead choose to call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300. "All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential," reaffirms the police department.
