On June 8, 2026, the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 10:57 p.m. for a building fire at the Waipahu Towers condominium, located at 94-337 Pupumomi Street in Waipahu, with 15 units and 49 personnel. Based on information knowing that this was a non-sprinklered apartment building and the 911 caller stating that the fire involved a battery that exploded, the incident was upgraded to a third alarm dispatching additional resources. The first unit arrived on scene at 11:04 p.m. and reported smoke emanating from the top floor of the eight-story apartment building.
Fire crews established a water supply and initiated an aggressive interior attack on an apartment unit on the eight floor, bringing the fire under control at 12:06 a.m., and reporting full extinguishment at 12:18 a.m. During the fire attack, fire fighters searched through thick, heavy smoke and low-visibility conditions for occupants on the floor that the fire originated on. Searches resulted in finding four adults and two infants sheltering in place in different apartment units. HFD rescuers assisted them to safety and transferred their medical care to the on scene Emergency Medical Services units. All searches confirmed that all other occupants were able to safely evacuate the building.
Following extinguishment, crews conducted salvage and overhaul operations to eliminate remaining hot spots by checking for fire extension within walls and other concealed spaces, ensuring the fire had not spread. Water used to extinguish the fire was also extracted from apartment units that were affected and removed through the stairwells.
All HFD personnel were accounted for, and no injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was called to assist residents who were displaced as a result of the fire.
An HFD Fire Investigator has been assigned to determine the fire’s origin and cause and to assess the extent of damage. Additional information will be released upon completion of the investigation.