A brush fire along Hana Highway at Milepost 11 prompted the closure of the roadway Monday night, according to a fire official.

Motorists reported a brush fire in the area at 5:08 p.m., said Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto. Fire crews arrived on the scene at 5:45 p.m. and found a quarter-acre fire that was going up a near-vertical cliff face and up a ridge.

Taomoto said large trees were on fire and that crews could not access the blaze due to its location. Maui Fire Department’s Air One helicopter was unable to respond to the fire Monday night, and a Paia crew and a tanker from Kahului were on the scene Monday night, but “just standing by until it burns to the road or burns itself out,” he said.

Police closed Hana Highway in both directions.