An early morning fire caused an estimated $320,000 in damage to a Kalama Valley home yesterday. About 50 percent of the residence was damaged. No one was injured.

Fire Capt. Frank Johnson said a family of four was awakened shortly after 5 a.m. by "loud pops" in the back of the house on the 1200 block of Honokahua Street.

The mother of the two children, ages 7 and 1, got everyone out of the house, Johnson said.

"They did the right thing and got out right away," he said. "The fire spread quickly."

CRASH KILLS DRIVER, SHUTS MAMALAHOA

HILO, Hawai'i — A single-vehicle crash on Mamalahoa Highway between Pu'uanahulu and Kailua killed a Kealakekua man and temporarily closed the highway yesterday morning.

Police said 39-year-old Timothy Fernandez was traveling north on Highway 190 shortly before 7:23 a.m. in a 2004 Mazda pickup truck and overtook another vehicle north of the 26-mile marker.

Fernandez then lost control, hit a rock embankment and overturned, police said. Fire officials said the truck was severely damaged and appeared to have rolled and scattered its contents along the roadway.