Hilo Hotel Fire Causes One Death, One Missing, $1.5M Loss

A fatal fire destroyed the Wild Ginger Hotel in Hilo, Hawaii, early on October 22, causing an estimated $1.4 million in damage and resulting in one confirmed death and one person missing. Emergency responders arrived around 2 a.m. to find the two-story hotel fully engulfed in flames, with parts of the building collapsed. The hotel manager reported eight occupied rooms, with initially two occupants unaccounted for; one has since self-evacuated while the other remains missing. Firefighters found a severely burned body in the rubble, and DNA testing is required to confirm the identity. Authorities, including the Hawaii Police Department and Fire Department, are investigating the fire's cause, with no foul play suspected, and a coroner’s inquest and autopsy are planned. Officials have requested anyone with information to contact Detective Robert Kamau to assist in the ongoing investigation.