A 56-year-old Mountain View man was taken into custody Sunday afternoon after the unpermitted structure he was living in was destroyed by a fire.
Police arrested Samuel Albert Hernandez on suspicion of second-degree arson and two counts of criminal property damage. He was later charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal property damage, but not arson.
“Our on-call deputy decided not to charge him with the arson,” Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Shiigi said Tuesday afternoon after Hernandez made his initial court appearance.
Shiigi said Hernandez is alleged to have damaged a 2000 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck and a 2000 Toyota RAV-4 SUV with a rake. Both vehicles belong to Hernandez’s brother, Peter Hernandez, who also owns the property on Ohia Street in Eden Roc subdivision where the fire occurred.
Hilo District Judge Harry Freitas maintained Hernandez’s bail at $2,000 and ordered him to return to court at 1:30 p.m. June 7.
Hernandez remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon.
According to a written Hawaii Fire Department statement, eight units responded to a 2:10 p.m. alarm Sunday. The first unit arrived 17 minutes later to find the 30-by-30-foot wooden structure and its metal roof fully engulfed in flames and collapsed. Firefighters contained the spread of the fire to nearby brush until additional water sources arrived.
The fire was reportedly under control at 2:35 p.m. and extinguished by 3:45 p.m.
The Fire Department described the structure as a single-family residence with a small second-story loft, unpermitted and uninsured, without electricity to the property. Damage was estimated at $150,000, with no property saved. According to the Fire Department, Samuel Hernandez and Teri Hauser lived in the home.
No injuries were reported.
The Fire Department release said the blaze remains under investigation. A phone message left for fire inspectors Tuesday wasn’t returned by press time.
The Red Cross said it was called in to ensure residents’ immediate emergency needs for food, shelter and clothing were met. A statement from the organization said 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.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
