Maui firefighters and heavy equipment operators yesterday afternoon prevented a brush fire that burned as estimated 300 acres of vacant land in Kïhei from reaching nearby homes.

Firefighters were still working to get the fire under control as of 8:30 p.m.
The blaze, located mauka of Piçilani Highway in South Maui, was reported at 12:26 p.m.
Forty-five firefighters battled the fire on the ground, assisted by four helicopters conducting water drops, six water tankers provided by the county's Public Works Department and Goodfellow Brothers Co., and six bulldozers, which were used to cut fire breaks to prevent the fire from spreading to a nearby subdivision.
According to the Maui County Public Information Office, the fire came within 200 yards of the nearest structures.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. No evacuations were necessary and no roads were closed.