Big Island firefighters contained a 500 acre brush fire that closed the Mamalahoa Highway yesterday.

The fire on the makai side of the highway was reported at 11:37 p.m. Sunday night and police closed Highway 190 from the 27 mile marker through the 30 mile marker until about 6:30 p.m. yesterday because of heavy smoke.

Firefighters patrolled Highway 190 to make sure the fire didn’t spread mauka of the highway.

Crews were expected to return to the scene this morning to put out hot spots.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.