Hawaii 24/7 Staff

Fire destroyed a house, threatened to explode several propane tanks Wednesday afternoon in Laupahoehoe and left a man suffering from smoke inhalation.

County fire crews also reported the blaze caused a live electrical wire to break free, creating an additional hazard. The homeowner told crews there were propane tanks in the house and garage, and firefighters worked to keep the fire away from the tanks and prevent an explosion.

Crews were alerted at 1:32 p.m. and arrived on Puualaea Homestead Road to find the two-story wooden house fully engulfed in flames.

The fire was brought under control by 2:15 p.m., and extinguished at 4 p.m.

A man, who was in the house at the time of the fire, was treated for smoke inhalation but refused transport to a hospital. No one else was at home at the time, but a family of three was displaced.

The blaze caused an estimated $200,000 in damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.