A stubborn brushfire that burned for five days in Makaha Valley, at one point prompting the evacuation of some residents, was declared contained last night.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said fire companies were demobilized at 6:30 last night.

The fire had burned more than 1,000 acres since Friday, Seelig said, but did not reach any buildings.

Some smoldering hot spots remained in the interior of the fire area but did not pose a threat of flaring up, Seelig said in a news release.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

More than 60 firefighters battled the fire yesterday: 45 from the Honolulu Fire Department, five from the federal fire department, eight from the Army fire department and others from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife and the Army Environmental Group.

Four helicopters made water drops on the fire yesterday: the Fire Department's Air 1, the Honolulu Police Department's helicopter and two civilian helicopters.

The helicopters were essential to controlling the fire in the valley, Seelig said.

"It's a stubborn wildfire because of the location, and the terrain makes it difficult to access," Seelig said.

Seelig said he had not heard any reports of respiratory problems despite a heavy cloud of smoke that covered the Makaha Valley Towers and other residences in the area early yesterday morning. Heavy smoke Friday prompted a voluntary evacuation of the towers for several hours.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.