Maui firefighters spent much of today battling a 300-acre brush fire in Olowalu.

The fire prompted police to close Honoapiilani Highway in both directions from the Pali Tunnel and Ehehene Street for about an hour early this evening due to smoke crossing over the highway.

Earlier, three homes in the Olowalu-Ukumehame area were evacuated due to the advancing fire.

One structure on Ehehene Street was threatened but fire crews and bulldozers from the county Public Works Department, West Maui Land Co. and Goodfellow Brothers Construction were able to keep the fire from reaching the homes.

As of 6:30 p.m., crews were cutting fire breaks, protecting another home on Paekii Place, and trying to prevent the fire from reaching the Ukumehame Firing Range.

The fire department’s Air 1 helicopter and two private helicopters from Windward Aviation made water drops by air while bulldozers and water tankers from Maui County Public Works, West Maui Land Co., and Goodfellow Brothers Construction assisted in the firefighting efforts.

Thirteen firefighters and heavy equipment from the State Division of Forestry & Wildlife also contributed to the effort.