Yesterday’s house fire in Pearl City was caused by a portable gas stove that was seated on the rear porch of the residence, Capt. Earle Kealoha of the Honolulu Fire Department said today.

After conducting various interviews with the residents and their neighbor, an investigator was unable to determine how the portable stove was activated. Damage estimates for the fire were $175,000 to the building and $15,000 to the contents.