A wildfire that burned more than 200 acres above Nanakuli yesterday appears to have been deliberately set, an official said.

Police questioned several juveniles in the area, but no arrests were made.

The fire was reported about 5:20 p.m. at the end of Lualualei Naval Road. Nearly 50 Honolulu Fire Department firefighters, the Air One helicopter and members of the federal fire department were sent to fight the blaze.

Early in the evening, fire officials estimated that it would take up to four hours to contain the blaze. But about a half-hour after darkness fell, officials suspended their efforts to avoid injury to their personnel after most of the fire had been brought under control, said Capt. Terry Seelig, HFD spokesman.

At 9 p.m., flames were still visible high on the ridgeline above Nanakuli, Seelig said. But he said the fire posed no immediate threat to homes and other property.

"Hopefully it will remain high enough so it doesn't spread," Seelig said. "It's at the top of the ridge in Nanakuli Valley and moving very slowly."

As a precaution, HFD set up a fire watch to monitor the situation. Should the fire flare up and threaten life and property, fire crews would be sent back to the scene, he said.

If not, firefighting efforts were expected to resume at first light today, he said.