A malfunctioning power strip caused a fire that damaged two homes Friday morning in Mililani, a Fire Department spokesman said.

A fire investigator determined today that the fire was unintentional and began in a storage room next to a laundry room, then spread into the laundry room, said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

The fire started in the back of a home on Aumea Loop about 9:40 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in less than two hours.

Three people who live in the home got out safely and were able to later return. 

The fire caused about $85,000 damage to the home and $3,000 damage to a neighboring home.