Three people escaped uninjured yesterday from a fire that damaged a two-story wooden house at Hau'ula Homestead Road.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said 35 firefighters from eight companies responded to the 2:14 p.m. alarm. The fire was extinguished at 3:55 p.m., Seelig said.

"There's significant damage. ... It doesn't appear to be livable right now," Seelig said of the 35-year-old home.

The cause of the fire was under investigation last night.

Two men, both 19, and a woman, 18, were asleep in different areas of the house when the fire started, Seelig said. "There's no (smoke) alarm but they smelled the smoke and got out," he said.

MAN CHARGED IN ARMED ROBBERY

A grand jury yesterday charged a 42-year-old man with the Sept. 15 armed robbery of Hallmark Jewelers at Ala Moana Center.

Aaron Charles McGuire was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Police said a man went into the store and tried on two Omega watches worth more than $20,000. He showed a gun tucked in his waistband and told the employee waiting on him, "I have a gun, don't follow me," the police report said.

McGuire was arrested four days later at his Birch Street apartment.

ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF DESIGNATED

The Honolulu Police Department yesterday announced the promotion of Narcotics/Vice Division Maj. Kevin Lima to the rank of assistant chief.

Lima, 53, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, has a master's degree in human resource management from Hawai'i Pacific University and a bachelor of science degree from Chaminade University.

The 28-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department will be the assistant chief in charge of the Special Field Operation Bureau, succeeding Assistant Chief Bryan Wauke, who is moving over to head the Central Command Bureau.

Also promoted were Capt. Carlton Nishimura to major, and Lts. Aaron Correia and Richard Robinson to the rank of captain.