3 dead in Honolulu high rise fire, building had no sprinklers

HONOLULU, Hawaii (KTVU) - Fire department officials confirm at least three people are dead in a five-alarm fire in a Honolulu, Hawaii high-rise apartment building. 

At a media briefing, fire department officials said the Marco Polo condominium building did not have a sprinkler system in place. The building is on Kapiolani Boulevard and the fire began Friday afternoon. 

The chief of the Honolulu Fire Department said the fire originated on the 26th floor and had spread upwards to the 28th floor. Fire officials said the blaze was being battled floor-by-floor. The fire was expected to be under control in an hour or so as of just after 8 p.m. PST. 

The building was not required to have a sprinkler system in place because it was constructed prior to a local ordinance taking effect that requires sprinklers in buildings.

Though there was no sprinkler system, officials said there was no shortage of water supply to battle the fire.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said high rises should all have sprinkler systems in place.

Residents in the building's hot zones adjacent, above or below the fire are being evacuated, according to fire department officials, but there is also a shelter-in-place for other parts of the building. 

"We're very concerned. We want to make sure we contain this fire," Mayor Caldwell said.

The three who died in the fire were found on the 26th floor. 

The Marco Polo is a 36-story building next to the Ala Wai Canal and has 586 units.