Honolulu fire officials are trying to determine the origin of an early morning brush fire that charred 40 acres of state land in Maili and came within 100 feet of homes Friday.

Forty-five firefighters from eight companies and three tankers responded to the alarm that was received at 4:06 a.m. The fire was brought under control nearly two hours later without damaging any homes or injuring people.

But the blaze could be seen for miles.

Carol McCoy, whose home on Mamo­alii Place sits on the western edge of the state land, was at work as a security guard at Lua­lua­lei Naval Magazine and saw the amber glow of the brush fire while on patrol miles away. "I could see the flames," she said.

McCoy called a neighbor who also works for the Navy at Lua­lua­lei. "He was up getting ready for work when I called to warn him."

McCoy also called her husband, who said he didn’t smell anything since the wind was blowing the smoke away from her home. "He didn’t know anything was happening," McCoy said. "When he went out to check, he said that one side was dark and the other was bright orange."

Firefighters were able to stop the flames before the fire damaged homes, said Capt. Terry Seelig, Hono­lulu Fire Department spokes­man.

The brush fire occurred in a field owned by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands bounded by homes on Mamo­alii Place on the west and the new Maka­lae at Sea Country subdivision on the south.

A few families chose to leave the area voluntarily because of the possible danger. Police said Maili Park was used as a temporary shelter for people who chose to leave their homes.

The fire was brought under control by 5:48 a.m., and there was no disruption to the heavy Leeward Coast morning rush-hour traffic.