Several Honolulu fire companies along with a helicopter dropping buckets of water fought a brush fire for about 2-1/2 hours Wednesday afternoon in the Waialae Nui area before containing it.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said companies arrived at the scene at 2:06 p.m., six minutes after receiving the initial call for help from an Alaeloa Street resident. Jenkins said 39 firefighters contained the fire by 4:42 p.m.

The cause of the brush fire, which burned about 3 to 5 acres, was under investigation Wednesday evening.

Homeowner Jon Ogata said the blaze appeared to have started near a power line and then moved to within 50 yards of his house.

“It was a cause for concern,” Ogata said. “The fire department was here right away.”

Firefighters ran hoses through area properties and were able to stop the advance of the fire toward the homes on Alaeloa Street. Ogata said he spotted the brush fire on the Ewa side of Alaeloa Street. It burned an area that includes undeveloped properties and moved to a separate ridge farther Ewa near Kilauea Avenue, he said.