MALAGA — A 4 1/2-acre fire on the Colockum Wildlife Area was believed to be under control just four hours after it was reported Tuesday.

The fire off Colockum Pass Road was reported at 1:49 p.m., and declared fully contained at 5:25 p.m., said U.S. Forest Service operations coordinator Brant Stanger. It continued to throw billowing smoke into the air late Tuesday afternoon as it burned in deep foliage.

“They’re probably going to leave an engine on it overnight,” Stanger said.

The response to the fire included two helicopters, which helped wet down the surrounding area while other firefighters worked to suppress the fire on the ground.

The cause remained under investigation Tuesday.