Firefighters yesterday examined the scene of a house fire on Ho'opi'o Street in 'Ewa, in which two people were reported dead. The fire leveled a home within minutes. After the blaze was nearly extinguished, firefighters discovered the bodies of the two victims. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

The bodies were so badly burned that officials could not even determine their genders at first sight. Neighbors said a couple who appeared to be in their 50s had moved into the one-story home at 91-1340 Ho'opi'o St. about five years ago.

Autopsies on the two bodies were scheduled for this morning and investigators at the city medical examiner's office planned to use dental charts this afternoon to establish identity.

Firefighters responding to the 3:43 p.m. alarm found flames shooting out of windows and the home engulfed, Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said.

"The fire was lapping out of the windows, so there was no entry, and we fought the fire from the exterior," he said.

No cries for help were heard, and it was only after the fire was nearly extinguished that firefighters discovered that people were inside, Kane said.

Kane said the bodies were in one of the home's three bedrooms. One appeared to be that of an adult; the other was covered by debris and was difficult to see, he said.

A dog was trapped behind the carport gate, but firefighters broke the lock and the dog escaped without injury.

Regina Rivera, who has lived on Ho'opi'o Street for 34 years, said she was in her kitchen when "we heard a pop, like a small explosion. My brother came running into the kitchen and said the house down the street was on fire.

"When we ran out, we could already see the flames coming out into the street." She said the fire appeared to have spread from the rear of the home to the front.

"If anybody was in there, there was nothing we could do because the house was engulfed by the time the fire department got here," Rivera said. "I've never seen a fire that vicious."

Another neighbor said she was sitting on her lanai when she heard a pop and "saw flames just shoot."

About 7 p.m. tearful family members began arriving at the home, which is in a neighborhood of older, one-story wooden houses. Police comforted the relatives, who were also assisted by the American Red Cross.

Rivera said she didn't know the couple by name but would wave to them as they passed by. She said she would often see the woman leaving early in the morning and the man working in the yard. The couple kept to themselves but were friendly, she said.

Damage to the home was estimated at $230,000. No other homes were significantly damaged.