Honolulu fire investigators have determined that a child playing with a lighter caused a fire that destroyed a house in Mililani on Tuesday morning.

The fire at 94-021 Mahau Place began in the family room on the second floor, the fire department said yesterday. Investigators classified the blaze as accidental.

Loss was estimated at $850,000 to the structure and $50,000 to contents.

The two-story, five-bedroom house is owned by the Samoan Congregational Church of Mililani and is used to house the Rev. Iosia Evile and his family.

Evile's daughter was treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

MARINES DEPLOY TO AFGHANISTAN

About 100 Marines and sailors with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment departed Hawai'i yesterday for a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

It was the final group of about 1,000 Marines and sailors who began deploying earlier this week.

This is the unit's first combat tour to Afghanistan since their return from there in January 2006, and its fourth combat deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

The Marines and sailors of 2/3 returned from a combat tour in Iraq in August 2008 and previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2006 to April 2007.

MO'ILI'ILI SHOOTING SUSPECT STILL AT LARGE

Police last night continued to seek the person suspected in Thursday's shooting in Mo'ili'ili that critically injured a man.

Police said a man, about 20 years old, entered the car of a 24-year-old man in Mo'ili'ili near University Avenue about 8:15 p.m. Thursday and shot the driver twice.

The shooter ran away, police said. The victim continued driving for several blocks before he stopped and called 911. The victim was taken to a hospital and was listed in critical condition.

The suspect is wanted on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery.