Shropshire Star

Honolulu high-rise residents to return to building after fatal fire

Three people died died in the blaze and 12 other people were treated for injuries.

Published
Last updated
Smoke billows from the high-rise apartment building in Honolulu (Audrey McAvoy/AP)

Most residents will be allowed back into a high-rise apartment building in Honolulu after a fire killed three people.

The Honolulu Fire Department said most residents of the 36-storey Marco Polo building should be able to return home, but three floors will remain closed because of heavy smoke, water and fire damage.

The fire started on the 26th floor on Friday afternoon, forcing residents to evacuate the wave-shaped building near the tourist destination of Waikiki.

Fire could be seen on several balconies at the Marco Polo apartment complex (Marco Garcia/AP)
Fire could be seen on several balconies at the Marco Polo apartment complex (Marco Garcia/AP)

Twelve other people were treated for injuries, and five were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire chief Manuel Neves said the Marco Polo is not required to have sprinklers, which he said would have confined the blaze to the unit where it started.

The block was built in 1971, before sprinklers were mandatory in high-rises. It contains more than 500 units.

The three people killed were found within the unit where the fire broke out, Mr Neves added.

Karen Hastings was in her 31st floor apartment when she smelled smoke. She ran out to her balcony, looked down, and saw flames five floors below her.

Crowds gather to watch the fire (Marco Garcia/AP)
Crowds gather to watch the fire (Marco Garcia/AP)

“The fire just blew up and went flying right out the windows,” the 71-year-old said of the first moments of the blaze.

“That was like a horror movie. Except it wasn’t a horror movie, it was for real.”

Ms Hastings said the flames drove her and a neighbour to run down 14 floors until they found a safe stairwell to get some air.

“We actually saw a person laying on a ledge and I don’t know whether he made it not,” she said.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.