The fire which destroyed what used to be called the Nu’uuli Shopping Center, across from the MHJ gas station in Nu’uuli is suspected to have started from the kitchen of the MC Restaurant.
This is according to the Director of the Department of Search and Rescue Save Liuato Tuitele.
Speaking from the scene of the fire this morning, he said the fire started between 5 and 5:30 this morning. He said there were two Asian men sleeping in the building and they got out safely. There were no injuries reported, but the whole building was
destroyed.
Save said the windy weather fanned the flames and caused the fire to spread quickly throughout the whole building. Other than the MC Restaurant, the building also housed a building supplier and an elei material store.
Two fire trucks from the Fagatogo Fire Station first responded to the fire before the fire truck from the Airport Fire Crash unit was called in to help.
The Director said a fire hydrant used to be located in front of the building, but it was removed. So the fire trucks had to use hydrants down the road at the Stevenson’s gas station and others by the Shoe Tree and Western Union.
The building has been around since the mid-1970’s and was regarded as the first mall
type commercial building in the territory. Some of the famous businesses that were housed there include Transpac, Beachcomber, Shoe Tree, Matai’s Pizza, TJ’s and Rubbles.
This was the second fire in Nu’uuli this week. On Monday morning, the LDS Church chapel in Nu’uuli was also destroyed by fire.
Photo: Bii Wklyy Poneshii
