Electrical failure in an outlet caused the fire that destroyed a wooden, one-story Kailua home rented by "Lost" actress and recent Golden Globe nominee Evangeline Lilly and two other women, a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said last night.

Capt. Kenison Tejada estimated that the fire, which ignited in a lanai area, caused $250,000 in structural damages, and $50,000 in damages to contents.

No one was home when the fast-moving fire started at about 6:30 a.m.

Some 30 firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 6:43 a.m., and arrived within six minutes. The fire was under control by 7:17 a.m. But as late as 8:30 a.m., firefighters were dousing hot spots in the home's smoldering roof and floorboards. Fire investigators arrived on the scene shortly afterward to sift through the charred remains.

The early-morning fire at 684 Iana Street woke up the quiet Kailua neighborhood where Lilly lives, and some neighbors were initially concerned the actress was still inside the burning home.

"Lost" was filming at Waialua Beach yesterday morning and one of Lilly's roommates, who works on the set, returned briefly to the home after the flames were out. She assured firefighters Lilly was safe, but declined further comment.

Later in the morning, fellow "Lost" cast member Dominic Monaghan arrived to see the destruction. The actor, wearing dark sunglasses, a T-shirt and board shorts, appeared shaken as he looked at the home.

He did not speak to the media, and left after about 20 minutes.

The blaze started at one end of the home and spread to the other side quickly thanks to brisk trade winds. The four-bedroom home is situated on a canal and was assessed by the city at about $1.2 million, according to Honolulu tax records.

"It was seconds before the thing was fully involved," said Bill Souza, who lives across the canal and called 911 after seeing smoke coming from the home.

"It was spreading so quick."

When Jorge Duarte, who lives across the street, saw flames coming from the home, he ran to the front door and broke a glass window.

He wanted to help anyone inside the home, but was shocked when a plume of black smoke poured out of the window. Knowing he couldn't go inside, he grabbed a water hose and attempted to slow the progression of flames.

Another neighbor, Jill Turner, a former firefighter, said she was sleeping when she heard a loud popping noise coming from the home. When she saw what was happening, she picked up a hose and helped Duarte attack the flames. "It was bad pretty quickly," Turner said.

A publicist for Lilly said the actress has lived in the home since 2004, when "Lost" started shooting in the Islands. Tax records show the home is owned by Linda and Stephen Lee of Duval Street in Honolulu.

The cast of "Lost" was scheduled to break for Christmas today.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.