A brushfire that started at about 11:30 last night continued to burn yesterday along a three-mile front on the remote south side of Haleakala near Kanaio and Nu'u Landing on Maui.

The fire, estimated at 500 acres threatened 10 residences, and 15 to 20 people were voluntarily evacuated to the Hana Community Center and the Kula Community Center, said Ellen Pelissero, Maui County spokeswoman.

She said the blaze consists of about three smaller fires and began last night as five separate fires. "They've got about a three-mile front on the fire," she said.

Maui police and the National Park Service have closed down a portion of Pi'ilani Highway from the Hana side at 'Ohe'o Gulch to the 'Ulupalakua Ranch at the 23-mile marker, she said.

The fire is in a relatively remote area, but there are about 10 homes and some ranches, she said. Some residents evacuated last night; others refused. There is normally very little traffic through the area, she said.

"The good news is the winds are relatively quiet — they are about 15 to 20 mph. The bad news is that it is just tinder dry over there," she said.

Four helicopters, tankers, bulldozers and about 30 fire personnel were on the scene. Fire officials are considering calling in the help of military helicopters from O'ahu, but at this point "they are hoping they can handle the fire themselves," she said.

Two military Chinook helicopters from O'ahu assisted in the West Maui brushfire upslope of Ma'alaea earlier this month. It was estimated that nearly 4,000 acres had been scorched in that fire.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.