Two people were killed in an early Thursday morning house fire at the northern edge of Hilo.
Two people were killed in an early Thursday morning house fire at the northern edge of Hilo.
The identity of the victims have not yet been released.
“That’s gonna be awhile,” Capt. Robert Wagner of the Hawaii Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division said on Thursday. “There’s going to be an autopsy and it’s probably going to be through dental records. … It will probably be Monday or Tuesday.”
Wagner said the fire at 917 Wainaku St. also claimed the life of a dog.
Ten units responded to the 1:08 a.m. alarm, according to a written Fire Department statement. The first unit arrived onscene at 1:15 a.m. The fire was reported under control at 2 a.m.
Responding firefighters found the single-family home fully involved with the roof partially collapsed. They made their grisly discovery after the fire was extinguished.
Officials estimate the loss at $150,000. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
County property tax records indicate the property is owned by Thomas K. Lalakea and Carolyn C. Lalakea of Honolulu.
Carolyn Lalakea said Thursday that the property is managed by Keith Dela Cruz and referred further questions to him.
Dela Cruz declined to disclose the names the property’s tenants, citing the police and fire investigation.
“We’re shocked and saddened,” Dela Cruz said Thursday afternoon. “It’s a hard time for all of us right now.”