Firefighters quickly extinguished a brush fire along Honoapiilani Highway in Maalaea before it spread to nearby homes Tuesday afternoon.

Fire crews responding to the 1:22 p.m. alarm at the highway and Maalaea Road contained the fire at about 2 p.m. and extinguished it at 2:36 p.m.

The fire, which was fueled by strong gusty trade winds, burned about a quarter-acre.

“As a precaution, residents nearby were evacuated but were able to return very shortly after,” the Fire Department reported.

The cause was unknown.

Kahului and Wailuku engine companies and a Kahului tanker responded to the fire.