3 dead in Honolulu apartment fire

HONOLULU (AP) – At least three people died and at least 12 others were injured in a fire that broke out on the 26th floor of a Honolulu high-rise Friday, and hundreds fled from the giant apartment complex as smoke billowed from the upper floors, authorities said.

The blaze at the Marco Polo apartments spread from at least up to the 28th floor and hit several units, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins.

The three dead were found on the 26th floor, said Fire Chief Manuel Neves.

Firefighters say there were reports of people trapped in their units in the burning building and some residents were unac- counted for.

The conditions of the injured were not immediately clear. Four people were taken to hospitals, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman Shayne Enright said.

The wave-shaped building, built in 1971, was not equipped with fire sprinklers, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said.

“Without a doubt if there were sprinklers in this apartment, the fire would be contained to the unit of origin,'' Neves said.

The blaze was still burning some four hours after it broke out, but authorities said they expected to have it out soon.

The high-rise, one of several of similar height near the tourist mecca Waikiki, has 568 condominiums that sell for an average of about $560,000 and four commercial spaces. Paramedics treated several injured people and at least four people were sent to the hospital. At least 12 people needed medical help, Jenkins said.

“We noticed the smoke coming up past our unit because it was right underneath us, and after that we took off,'' said Al Citron, who lives on the 32nd floor of the building. “We heard some explosions, looked down and saw the flames.''