KAUNAKAKAI, Moloka'i — A Moloka'i wildfire that has been burning for five days is nearly contained, according to Maui County Civil Defense administrator Gen Iinuma.

The footprint of the fire remains at about 8,000 acres and firefighters have managed to contain close to 80 percent of the blaze, he said.

Assisting firefighting efforts yesterday were two Hawai'i Army National Guard Chinook helicopters that made water drops over the Makakupa'ia section of the Moloka'i Forest Reserve, east of Kaunakakai, where about 400 acres have burned.

The firefighting force remains at about 60 personnel from Maui County, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy.

Iinuma said county firefighters worked yesterday to smother hot spots and flare-ups near populated areas in Kalama'ula and Kawela.

The fire started mauka of Kaunakakai on Saturday. The cause has not been determined.