By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a three-alarm structure fire at Waipahu Towers, an eight-story condominium at 94-337 Pupumomi St. in Waipahu, at 10:57 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2026.
- Crews rescued six people — four adults and two infants — who were sheltering in place in separate units on smoke-filled upper floors; no injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.
- Dispatchers upgraded the response to a third alarm based on the absence of a sprinkler system in the building and the possibility that a lithium-ion battery explosion had started the fire; a total of 15 units and 49 personnel were deployed.
- The fire originated on the eighth floor and was brought under control at 12:06 a.m. and fully extinguished at 12:18 a.m.
- An HFD fire investigator has been assigned to determine the cause and origin of the fire; the investigation is ongoing.
WAIPAHU, Hawaii — Honolulu Fire Department crews rescued six residents, including two infants, from heavy smoke conditions at Waipahu Towers late Monday night following a three-alarm fire on the building’s top floor that officials believe may have been caused by a lithium-ion battery.
The department received a 911 call at 10:57 p.m. reporting fire at the eight-story condominium at 94-337 Pupumomi St. in Waipahu. Based on confirmation that the building lacked a sprinkler system and initial reports that a battery may have exploded, dispatchers upgraded the response to a third alarm, ultimately sending 15 units and 49 personnel to the scene. The first fire company arrived at 11:04 p.m. and reported smoke issuing from the building’s top floor.
Firefighters established a water supply and conducted an interior attack on a unit on the eighth floor. During operations, crews conducted searches under heavy smoke and low-visibility conditions. Four adults and two infants were found sheltering in place in separate apartments on the affected floor; all were assisted to safety. Emergency Medical Services personnel provided on-scene medical evaluation. Searches confirmed all other building occupants had evacuated prior to crews’ arrival. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters, and all HFD personnel were accounted for at the conclusion of the incident.
The fire was brought under control at 12:06 a.m. and declared fully extinguished at 12:18 a.m. Following suppression, crews conducted overhaul operations to check for fire extension inside walls and concealed spaces and removed water from affected apartments and stairwells. The American Red Cross was contacted to assist residents displaced by the fire.
An HFD fire investigator has been assigned to determine the cause, origin, and extent of damage from the blaze. The investigation remains ongoing. The department used the incident to reiterate public safety guidance regarding lithium-ion batteries, advising residents to use only manufacturer-approved batteries and charging equipment, to avoid charging devices on soft surfaces such as beds or couches, and to call 911 immediately if a battery exhibits signs of overheating, leaking, swelling, or other unusual behavior.