The Waialua wildfire last week burned more than 7,000 acres before firefighters declared it 100 percent contained yesterday, but not completely extinguished.

Firefighters will wait 48 hours before stating definitely that the fire is completely out, said Honolulu Fire Chief Ken Silva. They are still dealing with hot spots in mountainous areas of the Waialua flank of the Wai'anae Mountain range.

The fire began Aug. 12 near the University of Hawai'i Experimental Farm near Kaukonahua Road. Residents were evacuated and many homes were covered in soot. But there were no injuries or damages done to homes, Silva said.

"We don't have a cause yet," Silva said. "It's very difficult to determine where the origination began because the fire front was so long. And when the winds swirled, it would launch the fire into a new area with fresh fuel."

At its peak, the fire required more than 125 firefighters — one-third of the HFD on-duty personnel — as well as workers from the city departments of Parks and Recreation, Transportation Services, Facilities Maintenance, police and the Board of Water Supply. Because of the magnitude of the blaze and the rugged terrain in which it burned, state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiian Electric Co., the Army National Guard and state Civil Defense also helped, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said yesterday.

Fire crews flew over the Waialua fire area yesterday and didn't see any smoke, said HFD Capt. Frank Johnson. However, the department was helping federal fire officials at Schofield Barracks fight a fire at the base, which appeared to be related to the Waialua fire.

Johnson said the fire at the base was not a threat to any buildings or property.

Hannemann said yesterday that the city has applied for, and was granted, Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to help cover the cost of overtime and equipment use and repair during the course of seven days of firefighting. The FEMA grant will cover 75 percent of the costs, Hannemann said.

"A fire this large, we just can't do it on our own," Silva said. "With everyone pulling together helping us, we were able to overcome a difficult situation."

Firefighters will be touring the site of the fire later this week to look for ways to improve the city's firefighting techniques, Silva said.

"We're committed to funding the Fire Department," Hannemann said. "We're well on our way to bringing fires like these under control."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.