An elderly couple and their dog escaped an early-morning house fire in Wahiawa yesterday after "snapping" sounds woke them.

"It could have been electrical lines snapping," said Capt. Terry Seelig of the Honolulu Fire Department. "They heard the noises, smelled the smoke and got out. Neighbors called the Fire Department for them.

"They didn't have smoke detectors, which would have probably alerted them earlier."

The fire at 61 'Ohai St. was reported at 3:23 a.m. Firefighters were on the scene within three minutes and had the fire under control by 3:29 a.m. It was extinguished at 4:06 a.m. Twenty-five firefighters responded, Seelig said, and they were able to contain the blaze to a bedroom.

The fire damaged about 25 percent of the four-bedroom home.

The American Red Cross was called to help the couple, both in their 70s.

"It appears it might have been electrical," Seelig said. "But the fire investigators haven't determined the exact cause yet."