HONOLULU -- Fire investigators ruled the house fire in Makiki that killed two people last week was intentionally set.

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The Honolulu Fire Department on Wednesday announced it had turned the case over to the Honolulu Police Department's arson investigation team.

It took 40 firefighters about half an hour to bring the fire under control early on Thursday morning.

Larry Fair, 58, and Christy Ray Sasaki-Bartlett, 38, died in the blaze. Eight people were in the house when the fire started, investigators said.

Police said Fair was found in a bedroom in the back of the house, and Sasaki-Bartlett was found in an upstairs hallway.

They were among at least 5 tenants who shared the three-story, five-bedroom home.

Sasaki-Bartlett's family and friends are concerned about reports that she was intoxicated and involved in a loud argument right before the fire broke out.

They told KITV that they are troubled about speculation that she may have started the fire.

"I really hope they don't think it was Christy Ray," said family friend Sonya Baker. "There's no sign at all that she would ever do this. I mean, she was like so loving, and it was a total shock to me and everybody else."

"There was some time that elapsed between that argument and when the fire started. About 45 minutes. So whether or not the argument had any relevance to the fire, it's going to be part of the investigation," said Maj. Frank Fujii of the Honolulu Police Department.

Fire and police investigators would not say what they found that indicated the fire was intentionally set.

Authorities would only say that they are investigating one death as a homicide and the other as an accidental death.

"No one really knows what happened in the house. So I don't think it's fair to say that she started it because of the argument," said Baker. "Even if they somehow found some kind of evidence that would link her, I wouldn't believe it."

Damage to the home is estimated at $550,000, HFD said.