Maui firefighters are monitoring a brush fire in Pukalani that scorched 200 acres Thursday and forced residents to leave their homes for a brief period.

The brush fire was reported at 2:21 p.m. and started up behind homes on Akalani Loop in Pukalani. It was under control five hours later, but firefighters maintained a vigil during the night.

At one time there were 26 firefighters from five companies, two water tankers and three helicopters conducting water drops.

During the height of the blaze, flames came to within 30 feet of Akalani Loop homes, and for a short time, residents were evacuated when the fire threatened about a dozen structures. Residents have since been let back into their homes.

Makawao firefighters arrived at 2:31 p.m. but were hampered in fighting the fire because of limited access. The fire was burning in a deep gulch behind homes and crews initially were not able to get fire trucks across the 100-foot deep gulch.

Firefighter’s have not yet determined what started the fire, but know that it started somewhere near homes on the Akalani Loop side of the gulch.

There have been no reports of injuries or structures damaged.