Building fire closes Young Street in McCully | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Over two dozen firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1822 Young Street tonight around 7:45 p.m.

Even around 8:15 p.m., smoke continued to leave what appeared to be shipping container on Young Street situated between a one-story house and the Artesian Young apartment building.

Gina Matsuzawa-Diaz, who rents the unit next door with her husband, said the first thing she noticed was the smell of the smoke.

“When I walked outside I saw billowing smoke, so I ran back inside and called 9-1-1,” Matsuzawa-Diaz said.

Matsuzawa-Diaz and her husband, neither of whom were injured, were outside their house as firefighters rummaged through the structure, and appeared to be in good spirits. Matsuzawa-Diaz said she was shaken up but was laughing with others she was talking with.

She was holding a heavy-duty flashlight she brought from her house as she rushed outside.

“I grabbed it—I don’t know why,” she said.

She is not sure if any damage was done to her unit, which is attached to a studio.

The fire took place near Times Supermarket on King street and in a residential area.

Matsuzawa-Diaz, who has lived in the unit for about 35 years, said the container is a workshop that belongs to a man who works as a knife sharpener.

She said this is the first incident like this that happened.

Firefighters were seen removing items from a small structure where the fire occurred.

Police said Young Street was closed from Pawaa Lane to Artesian Street while firefighters responded to the fire.