UPDATE: 1:35 p.m.

A fire that gutted a home in Waipahu early today was intentionally set, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.

An investigation revealed the fire originated on the left exterior of the home. Two men safely escaped the fire but the family’s four dogs died in the blaze, the fire department said.

Damage to the home is estimated at $604,000 to the structure and its contents.

The case has been turned over to the Honolulu Police Department for further investigation.

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Two men safely escaped an early morning fire that gutted a home in Waipahu today.

Eleven units with more than 35 firefighters responded to the fire at 94-495 Palai Street in Village Park just after 1:20 a.m. When they arrived, they found a fully-involved fire at a single-story structure, the Honolulu Fire Department said.

Smoke alarms activated at the home, alerting two occupants, ages 76 and 55, of the fire.

Fire crews brought the fire under control shortly after 1:40 a.m. and extinguished it a half-hour later.

Emergency Medical Services personnel treated the two men for minor smoke inhalation. Both declined to be taken to the hospital.

HFD said one dog died in the fire and three other dogs are unaccounted for.

The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and a damage estimate has yet to be determined.

Neighbor Eugene Cachola said he was sleeping when his dog started barking. He opened his door and saw large flames emanating from the front section of his neighbor’s property.

The flames were about 10 feet high, he said. Cachola’s home did not sustain any damage from the fire.