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Fire in Hilo burns third floor apartment, displaces residents

UPDATED (4:38 p.m. on 12/13/2017)

HILO, HI: December 13, 2017 – The American Red Cross has closed the shelter at the Butler Building in Hilo, which opened yesterday evening for residents evacuated from their apartment on Ululani Street.

Red Cross disaster volunteers went to the scene yesterday to meet with the affected residents to ensure their immediate emergency needs for food, shelter and clothing were met. Caseworkers will continue to follow up with anyone affected in the coming weeks to provide referrals, guidance or additional assistance as needed to help with the recovery process.

The Red Cross encourages all families to make a disaster plan to include an evacuation plan with two different routes of escape, a communications plan to help families reconnect after disaster and a disaster supplies kit that is readily available to aid in a quick evacuation. Information on developing a family plan is available to the public at www.redcross.org, or a brochure can be requested by calling 734-2101.

By Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Fire/rescue crews responded to a 3 p.m. alarm Tuesday (Dec 12) to 270 Ululani Street in Hilo for an apartment fire.

Crews arrived to find a third floor apartment with its bedroom engulfed in flames. The fire sent flames into the attic of the three-story apartment building over the neighboring unit.

tenants were able to evacuate safely, firefighters had the blaze under control by 3:26 p.m. and it was declared out at 4:02 p.m. Ululani Street was closed to traffic during firefighting operations.

The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross were at the scene to aid displaced residents and set-up a shelter for them at the butler building next to Hilo’s Afook-Chinen Civic Center at 260 Kalanikoa Street off Mamao Street. The shelter opened at 9 p.m. for the tenants who had evacuated the apartment complex for their immediate emergency needs of food, shelter and clothing.

The loss in the fire is estimated to be $150,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

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