HONOLULU - An fire that raged through two apartment buildings in Honolulu's Kapalama neighborhood has left six families homeless.

The blaze raged through the closely clustered buildings Saturday morning, sending residents scattering.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gary Lum told the Star-Advertiser that initial indications point to a malfunctioning gas water heater as the two-alarm fire's cause.

Lum said a two-unit building was fully gutted, causing about $240,000 in damage. A six-unit complex suffered an unknown amount of damage.

Oahu disaster coordinator Jessie Kozel said the American Red Cross helped about 20 people staying in six units. Some are staying at hotels and others with relatives.

Residents were able to return to the scene of the blaze later Saturday to survey the damage and see whether they could salvage any of their belongings.

Joseph Trumata, 50, said he, his wife and two teenage boys did not have a place to go. He said he ran outside to try to help others put out the fire, but they were too late.

"The fire became too big," he said.

Meliton Canete, 62, told the newspaper he ran for the door after the fire broke out but was forced back in by the flames. He suffered cuts to his back and left leg after jumping through a window where he had removed the glass and a wire screen.

He was the only person injured in the blaze.

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Information from: The Honolulu Advertiser, http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com

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