KAILUA-KONA — Hawaii Fire Department crews extinguished a trailer fire early this morning on the loading dock at Target in Kailua-Kona.
The department reported that the 40-foot container was on a trailer and that its rear door entry area caught fire around 1:45 a.m. as it sat next to Target’s loading zone entry door.
When crews responded around 1:50 a.m., they observed flames and dark black smoke where visible near the rear bottom of the trailer area. The container on fire also displayed a red flammable and green non-flammable placard on it’s side.
Companies 7 and 21 initially used turrets to prevent fire spread into the business. It was determined that the contents of the container was mixed merchandise including propane and helium gas cylinders which were detonating.
A Meadow Gold truck driver arrived on scene and assisted by moving the container away from the building so that the fire could be extinguished. Surveillance footage showed an individual in the area 16 minutes prior to the start of the fire.
The fire was under control around 4 a.m.