A late-night battery explosion rocked an eight-story Waipahu high-rise early Sunday, filling the top floor with heavy smoke and forcing three residents out of their homes. Firefighters battled a thick, smoke-choked interior fire at the Waipahu Towers condominium on Pupumomi Street after a 911 caller reported a battery had blown up. No injuries were reported, but crews helped several people, including infants, out of the building while the American Red Cross stepped in to assist those displaced.
What happened
According to the Honolulu Fire Department, a 911 call came in at 10:57 p.m. reporting a fire at Waipahu Towers, and the incident was quickly upgraded to a third alarm after the caller mentioned a battery explosion. Crews arrived at 11:04 p.m. to find smoke pouring from the top floor, then launched an interior attack on the blaze. Firefighters brought the fire under control at 12:06 a.m. and declared it fully extinguished at 12:18 a.m. The building does not have a sprinkler system, and an HFD investigator has been assigned to pinpoint the fire’s origin and assess the damage, according to Hawaii News Now.
Battery fires are a growing hazard
The Waipahu blaze is one of several recent battery-related fires on Oahu, ranging from e-bike incidents that triggered hazmat responses to apartment fires that sent thick smoke through residential buildings and displaced tenants. Fire officials warn that lithium-ion batteries can overheat, reignite after appearing to be out and pump out dense smoke that makes interior firefighting and rescues far more difficult. A late-May roundup highlighted a Mililani apartment fire tied to a lithium-ion e-bike battery and underscored the rising risks of rechargeable batteries at home; see the Mililani e-bike hazmat scare.
Aftermath and safety steps
Search teams located four adults and two infants sheltering in separate units, and HFD crews helped guide them to safety before turning them over to on-scene EMS units. No injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was called in to assist the three residents displaced by the fire. Investigators will determine how the battery ignited and tally the full extent of the damage. Fire officials also urged tenants to check that their smoke alarms are working and to avoid leaving batteries charging unattended, according to Hawaii News Now.
