Officials declared a wildfire burning in the Hanaulaiki section of the West Maui Forest Reserve 85 percent contained last night.

Sixteen state Division of Forestry and Wildlife personnel and 11 Maui County wildland firefighters wrapped up a 10-hour ground operation at sunset in an area above the Ukumehame Firing Range that is rugged terrain with steep gulches. Two helicopters making water drops and a 4,000-gallon water tender assisted in yesterday's operation.

John Cumming, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife's Maui district manager, said the fire affected a threatened and endangered species habitat of nene, several native snails and three plants, including dalia ferns. "The ground assault has been very prudent," Cumming said of the firefight effort's concern for the habitat.

The fire, which started at 5:09 p.m. yesterday, had burned about 95 acres as of 7 p.m. yesterday. There have been no reports of harm to nene, Cumming said.