Maui firefighters extinguished a brush fire this morning that scorched five acres over two days near Hana Highway.

Motorists traveling on Hana Highway reported a fire near milepost 11 just before 5:10 p.m. Monday.

Firefighters arrived and observed the fire charred a quarter-acre of thick vegetation and large eucalyptus trees on the hillside mauka of the highway, approximately a mile from Honomanu Bay, according to the Maui Fire Department.

Police closed the highway for three hours as a safety precaution as firefighters battled the fire.

Flames climbed up a near vertical slope that hampered fire crews’ efforts from reaching the fire. The department also could not deploy Air 1 because of rainy and cloudy conditions.

Crews left the area Monday night and returned this morning with Air 1 conducting water drops.

The brush fire was extinguished shortly before 10:40 a.m. The fire department said the cause was undetermined.