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Firefighters gain upper hand on California wildfires; all evacuations lifted

More than 2,000 firefighters have been battling the blaze that began Thursday. David McNew/Getty Images

PALMDALE, Calif. – All mandatory evacuations have been lifted for nearly 3,000 residents threatened by a massive Southern California wildfire.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Nathan Judy says firefighters have contained 60 per cent of the 50-square-mile Powerhouse Fire.

More than 2,000 firefighters have been battling the blaze that began Thursday.

Residents in some rural communities who were evacuated Saturday were allowed to return Monday afternoon. The fire remains active in the northwest, threatening about 275 homes, down from 1,000 earlier in the day.

The fire has destroyed six homes and damaged nine others. Three firefighters have minor injuries.

Judy says firefighters expect cooler temperatures, lighter winds and rising humidity to help them make more progress overnight, and helicopters will continue dropping water.

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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Read more: Firefighters make big jumps toward surrounding Southern California wildfires

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