Big Island fire investigators are searching for the cause of an early morning house fire yesterday in Hilo.

Firefighters responding to a 12:47 a.m. alarm at 444 D Kukuau St. found the single-family dwelling 60 percent in flames. No one was home at the time.

The fire damaged the kitchen and living room area, then spread through the carport, firefighters said.

Before firefighters arrived, a neighbor saved a car that was in the carport.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 1:11 p.m. The fire caused $150,000 in damage.