We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webinars
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
Home » Cause of Deadly Marco Polo Fire ‘Undetermined’

Cause of Deadly Marco Polo Fire ‘Undetermined’

October 18, 2017
Steve Smith
No Comments
Cause of Deadly Marco Polo Fire ‘Undetermined’

After months of investigation, the Honolulu Fire Department concluded no definite cause for the deadly Marco Polo high-rise fire.

(Download the full report here.)

"The HFD fire investigators have completed an extensive and scientifically based investigation in full collaboration with other agencies and have classified the fire cause as undetermined," Fire Chief Manuel Neves said at a news conference Oct. 16.

 

Three people died in the July 14 fire at the 36-floor condominium with another person dying later in a hospital. More than 130 firefighters responded to the fire, which caused an estimated $107 million in damage, destroying 30 units with another 180 dwellings sustaining fire, smoke and water damage.

The official incident report released did rule out arson, natural causes and rumored reasons, such as a drug lab accident. But the 85-page report left many questions unanswered, including chiefly what caused the fire.

Fire officials, however, did determine that the fire started in a living room on a unit on the 26th floor in the building’s landward side.

The report quotes the apartment’s occupant as saying he saw a plume of smoke rising from the floor in the living room and shoot up to the ceiling followed by “what sounded like a whooshing sound, then fire appeared.”

Once started winds gusting toward the ocean spread the fire like “a blowtorch,” according to the report. All the fatalities were on the ocean side of the building across the hallway from where the fire originated.

Several items drew fire investigators’ attention as possible causes, including standard 110-volt wall outlets, a 220-volt air conditioner outlet, air conditioning, small gas fuel cylinders used for craft projects, a lighter, and a laptop and desktop computer. Another subject of concern is that at least one of the occupants of the unit on the 26th floor was a smoker.

The Marco Polo apartment building has no fire sprinkler system. The tower overlooking Waikiki was constructed in 1971, before sprinklers were required for new construction in the city.

A new bill would require sprinklers in all high-rise buildings regardless of when they were constructed.

Meanwhile, an Associated Press investigation after the blaze revealed that the building also failed to update its fire alarms to meet safety standards despite an engineering firm recommending changes several years ago. The tower was not required, however, to meet the standards because they were not part of fire code at the time of original construction.

The Honolulu Fire Department may reopen the investigation pending any new information.

More details here.

Codes & Standards Engineers & Specifiers Engineering Fire Protection Industry Community News Residential Safety Sprinkler Systems
  • Related Articles

    The Marco Polo Fire – Current Aftermath

    The Marco Polo Fire

    PPI Challenges Cause of Benzene Water Supply Contamination; Findings Now Available

Steve outline
Steve Smith

A CITE Like No Other

More from this author
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular

  • Saniflo USA Donates to Virginia Technical Institute

  • Louisville Water Uncovers Ancient Check Valve Dating Back to the 1870s

  • Brooke Chase Associates Recruits Dale Fields as CEO, USA for Jmatek

  • Merit Brass Co. Acquires Supply Source Products

Featured Video

Merit video june

Merit Brass Merit Press Technology in Copper & Stainless to Save You Time & Money

Industry Events

  • 09Aug

    PVF Roundtable Q3 Networking Meeting

    Houston , TX
  • 08Sep

    SFPE Forum on Fire Protection Engineering: Challenges in Storage

    Wheeling, IL
  • 11Sep

    IAPMO 93rd Annual Education and Business Conference

    Charlotte, NC
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw06 2022 cover
    Learn More
  • Pe06 2022 cover
    Learn More
  • Phc06 2022 cover
    Learn More
  • Es07 2020
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2022 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing