Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed two units Thursday at Hale Makana O Waiale affordable housing complex in Wailuku. The Maui News/LILA FUJIMOTO photos

WAILUKU — Two families lost their homes and six other families were temporarily displaced by a fire Thursday morning at Hale Makana O Waiale in Wailuku.

“For something so horrible to happen, we’re blessed that people are safe and alive,” said Monique Ibarra, executive director of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, which runs the affordable housing complex. “Everybody pulled together to help out the families, and the Fire Department was amazing.”

The fire was reported at 10:57 a.m. at the complex on Waimaluhia Lane.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find a fire in a ground-floor unit that extended up into a second-floor unit, according to the Maui Fire Department. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fires in both units and confirmed all occupants were out of the units, the Fire Department reported.

A fire truck is stationed at Hale Makana O Waiale in Wailuku while firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed two units at the complex Thursday.

The fire was brought under control at 11:37 a.m. and extinguished at 2:50 p.m.

Wailuku, Kihei and Kahului engine companies and a Kahului Hazmat crew helped fight the fire.

Damage was estimated at $400,000 to the structure and $10,000 to its contents, according to the Fire Department.

Two units were destroyed by the fire and eight other units sustained smoke and water damage, Ibarra said. She said a dog that was a comfort animal died in the fire.

She said all of the families, including at least 14 adults and more than 15 children, were staying at the neighboring Ka Hale A Ke Ola shelter. Six of the families were expected to be able to return to their units within two to three days, she said.

The American Red Cross was helping families with financial support and trauma counseling, Ibarra said.

“We’ve never had this happen before,” she said. “It’s such a tragedy.”

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed two units Thursday at Hale Makana O Waiale affordable housing complex in Wailuku. The Maui News/LILA FUJIMOTO photos A fire truck is stationed at Hale Makana O Waiale in Wailuku while firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed two units at the complex Thursday.

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