A brush fire that closed the Mamalahoa Highway 190 burned about 500 acres today, the fire department said.

The highway, which had been closed from the 27 mile marker to the 30 mile marker, re-opened at 6:30 p.m., Big Island Civil Defense said.

The fire was reported at 11:37 p.m. last night and continued to burn out of control this afternoon on vacant state land and land owned by Hualalai Development.

Two private bulldozers helped build firebreaks and two fire department helicopters dropped water on the blaze.

The fire department also set back fires to contain the brush fire. The cause is not known.