Police are investigating a fatal fire in Hilo that occurred early Wednesday morning at the Wild Ginger Hotel on Puueo Street.

Officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded at 2 a.m. to a reported fire at the hotel.

Upon arrival, the structure was fully engulfed in flames, with portions of the hotel already collapsed.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing flames coming from the roof.

Officers contacted a 34-year-old female manager, who reported that eight rooms were occupied at the time of the fire, and all but two occupants had been accounted for.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, a severely burnt body was discovered in the remnants of the structure.

A search for the second unaccounted person was ongoing Wednesday.

Area I Criminal Investigation Section personnel

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