Unattended candles are believed to be the cause of a fire that caused an estimated $20,000 in damage to a Kapa'au house yesterday, the Hawai'i County Fire Department reported.

No one was hurt in the 1:40 p.m. fire at 53-4183 Akoni Pule Highway.

The homeowner told firefighters she was burning candles at the time of the fire. A neighbor saw heavy smoke and called 911. The fire was limited to the downstairs area, but the entire house suffered extensive smoke damage.

When firefighters arrived, a bystander was shooting water onto the house with a hose. Firefighters extinguished the fire in 10 minutes.