SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) -- A stubborn wildfire moved away from hundreds of canyon homes while firefighters made progress Tuesday against other blazes that burned more than 21,000 acres of Southern California brush and forest.
Thousands of people had been evacuated from houses in northern Los Angeles County since the 6,000-acre Foothill Fire began Saturday. A few hundred were still barred from returning home.
The blaze, ignited when a red-tailed hawk flew into a power line and its flaming body fell into brush, was 65 percent contained, said Los Angeles county fire Inspector Ron Haralson.
The number of firefighters battling the blaze was reduced from more than 2,000 to 1,892, Haralson said, and there were no helicopters or tankers in the air early Tuesday.
``It slowed down considerably throughout the night and in the morning,'' Haralson said. ``If need be, we do have 'copters that are prepared to make water drops.''
In recent days, fires burned across more than 40,000 acres of California. The overall cost of fighting the four largest fires was estimated at $20 million.
Firefighters gained ground on Southern California's two other major fires, although blazes continued to rage farther north.
Near Hemet in Riverside County, the 3,667-acre Melton Fire was fully contained. The blaze 90 miles east of Los Angeles destroyed four mobile homes, 14 vehicles, 14 outbuildings, a motor home and a travel trailer.
One firefighter was treated for minor burns received while battling the fire, which authorities said was started by a target shooter who was cited and may be held liable for the cost of fighting the blaze.
About 45 miles north of Los Angeles, firefighters had the 17,400-acre Pine Fire 95 percent contained. The blaze destroyed three homes and 12 outbuildings and threatened spotted owl and California condor habitat.
About 600 firefighters were involved in extinguishing the fire, which authorities said could be fully contained by Wednesday.
In Stanislaus County in central California, firefighters prepared for a difficult battle against a 1,500-acre wildfire that flared Monday near the San Joaquin River.
The effort was hampered because the use of bulldozers to build fire breaks is forbidden in the national wildlife refuge, said county fire Deputy Chief Jim Weigand.
``The normal methods we would use to get a ring around the fire are not available to us,'' he said. ``We'll have to use hand crews and wait for the fire to reach natural barriers.''
Weigand said a fire 15 miles west of Modesto slowed during the night, but some flare-ups were spotted Tuesday morning.
In Yosemite National Park, a lightning-sparked wildfire spread across more than 3,800 acres and was being allowed to grow on one front, park officials said.
Late Monday night, a fire began in Santa Barbara County near Jalama Beach County Park. It grew to more than 300 acres, but no structural damage or injuries were reported.
