A child was found dead yesterday afternoon following a fire that destroyed a house that was home to as many as 29 people.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Frank Johnson said the child was found around 4 p.m. in the home at 4411 Likini St. in Salt Lake. The child was pronounced dead at the scene, said Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

Firefighters received the call at 2:20 p.m., and when they arrived five minutes later, the home was "fully engulfed," Johnson said.

Despite some language difficulties, the family was able to communicate to firefighters that 18 people were home at the time of the fire — but that one child was missing, Johnson said.

"As soon as we arrived on the scene someone informed us there was a missing child," Johnson said. "We had people go in the structure right away do a search in the area where we were told the child might be. And we were unsuccessful. But, we needed to put out the fire before we continued searching."

Meanwhile, police combed the grounds, even bringing in a helicopter to aid in the hunt, said HFD spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.

Johnson said the fire was under control at about 2:45 p.m. and at around 4 p.m. firefighters found the body of the child in one of the bedrooms. He said Emergency Medical Services personnel later pronounced the child dead and the medical examiner was called in. An autopsy is scheduled for today. A spokesperson in the medical examiner's office said a positive identification will probably be made through dental records.

The missing child was apparently described by family members as a 5-year-old boy. The unidentified child's body later found by firefighters was "burned beyond recognition," according to Chelpic.

"It's always tragic when there's a death, and even more so when it's a child," Tehada said.

The Red Cross was on scene and helping the family.

HOME TO 6 FAMILIES

Volunteer Jim Amos said the house was home to six families — one big extended family — and a total of 29 people. At least a dozen of those were children.

"Our primary function here is to provide the family with emergency shelter, food and clothing," Amos said. "We're in the process of arranging a place for them to stay. And we'll be working to get them clothing and essential items."

The fire destroyed the three-bedroom house, said Johnson, who put the total damage estimate at $255,000.

Police blocked off the scene, and fire investigators combed through the ruins. Investigators at the scene said they had not determined what started the fire or in which part of the house it began.

Shortly after 7 p.m. police took down the barricades and opened the street to pedestrians and through traffic. By that time many residents from the neighborhood had joined Red Cross workers in doing whatever they could to comfort the stricken family.

Malia Rice, of 4445 Likini, one of those who helped the family, described the horror of watching the home go up in flames.

"I was so scared because of all the black smoke," she said. "When I walked down, the fire shooting up into the air was horrendous. I just panicked."

MOTHER 'IN SHOCK'

Although Rice said she didn't know the names of the people living in the house, she described them as "wonderful, gentle people."

Rice said she had tried to console the mother of the child who died.

"She is just in shock," said Rice, who wept herself as the mother wailed in agony in the background. "I just wish there was something I could do that would take her pain away."

Rice described how firefighters searched the home while HPD officers searched the grounds for the missing child, even as a police helicopter tried to spot the child from overhead.

Another neighbor, Andrew Antolin, 11, said he was familiar with the child who died in the flames.

"Sometimes when I go down there to see my friends I've seen him playing with his brothers and sisters," said Antolin, who didn't know the boy's name. "He's 5 years old and he goes to Pearl Harbor Elementary School. He's in kindergarten.

"He was playful. He liked to run. He liked to play tag."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.