Kekaha home burnt down, one resident injured

KEKAHA – A fire in Kekaha displaced one resident late Tuesday evening.

The lone occupant sustained burn injuries and transported to Wilcox Hospital in critical condition. The Kekaha resident was later medivacked to Straub Hospital on O‘ahu this morning and is currently in stable condition. Volunteers with the America Red Cross are assisting the displaced individual.

Firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire to a one-story dwelling in Kekaha on Ulili Road at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Personnel from the Waimea, Hanapepe, and Kalaheo fire stations; the Fire Prevention Bureau; the on-duty Battalion Chief; Kaua‘i Police Department; American Medical Response; and the American Red Cross responded to the incident.

Director of Disaster Services for Red Cross Kauai Padraic Gallagher said his team met with the Kekaha resident’s family on Wednesday, but no further details were available at the time of print.

According to a preliminary report, upon arrival at approximately 9:40 p.m., fire personnel discovered a single-story home fully engulfed in flames. The occupant of the one-story dwelling was home at the time of arrival. Fire personnel established a water supply via a stand-pipe and proceeded to extinguish the fire. After extinguishment, firefighters remained on the scene to put out hot spots. Later, the Fire Prevention Bureau conducted an on-scene investigation.

Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 11:50 p.m. Damages are estimated at $350,000, and the dwelling and its contents are considered a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.