DUI Checkpoints & Structure Fire Cause

This weekend is the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, and the Hawaii Police Department said it will conduct DUI checkpoints and officers will be patrolling islandwide.

In 2018, 14 drivers were arrested for DUI during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,874 people died nationally in 2017 from drunken driving-related crashes and drinking and driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the U.S.

Police recommend that if you drink, don’t drive. Designate someone to be a sober driver. If you have a friend or family member who’s been drinking, make sure they don’t drive.

The department asks that if you see drunken drivers on the road, call the dispatch center at 935-3311.

Police said a woman who was using a propane torch to exterminate ants may have set pallets on fire, setting off a chain reaction that led to a number of improvised, unpermitted structures being destroyed by fire Thursday evening in Puna.

Eleven Hawaii Fire Department units responded to property near 16-1590 37th Avenue in Orchidland Estates subdivision after the alarm sounded at 6:27 p.m. The first unit arrived nine minutes later and noted heavy black smoke and multiple small explosions.

A written Fire Department statement described the residence as “multiple small improvised and unpermitted structures with abandoned vehicles, appliances, roofing material, scrap metal and animal pens.”

The statement notes access was “very difficult due to the large amount of scrap metal.” All structures on the property were destroyed.

The fire was determined to be under control at 9 p.m. but two fire units remained on scene to monitor and extinguish “persistent hot spots.” Engine 18 reported mop-up of the scene was completed at about 10:15 a.m. Friday.

No injuries were reported and there was no dollar estimate of damage.