Honolulu police detectives have classified the massive fire that burned several homes in McCully as arson.

“It’s suspicious in nature,” said police Lt. Trent Umeno.

Umeno said police were still investigating the blaze.

Authorities said after thorough review of the fire at a two-story structure in McCully, there is no indication anyone died.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said Honolulu police with a cadaver dog went through what was left of the structure Thursday and found no evidence of any dead person.

Firefighters had gone through the structure earlier and called in the police to conduct a search as well, after someone indicated a person who is not a resident but frequents the home was missing.

The fire began at the two-story dwelling at 837 Hauoli St. at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, then spread to several other homes.

Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 15 minutes.

The Fire Department initially reported at least four homes were hit by the fire. After further investigation, Jenkins said six homes in the densely populated neighborhood were either destroyed or damaged.

Damage to the six properties was estimated at approximately $1 million — $542,00 to the single-family dwelling that collapsed and $460,000 to five surrounding homes.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Scott Suzuki, 29, who lives in a two-story home next to the collapsed structure, said he was alerted to the fire when he smelled something like plastic burning. He saw a small fire in the garage of his neighbor’s home. It was like “a little barrel fire in the garage.”

He immediately grabbed a garden hose and started spraying his house with water. About a minute and a half later, flames quickly spread to the roof of the garage and upper floor. “It was so quick,” Suzuki said. “They had a lot of junk in the garage.”

After the fire got out of control, Suzuki grabbed some of his personal items from his home and safely escaped.

Winds fanned flames to properties behind the dwelling where the fire initially started.

The fire also scorched utility lines and trees near the homes.

Suzuki, an engineer, returned to the area Thursday morning in an attempt to retrieve some of his belongings inside the home where he lived for almost seven years.

He said he had lately observed a lot of foot traffic from the home where the fire started. “There’s a lot of people (going) in and out recently in the back house.”

Janis Yamamoto, who owns the home Suzuki lived in, rushed to McCully from her Pearl City home Wednesday night after her property manager alerted her of the fire. Suzuki is one of six tenants who live in her home. All safely evacuated.