Wildfires rage on for third day

SIERRA MADRE, California (CNN) -- For a third day, firefighters continued to battle a stubborn wildfire that has consumed 538 acres of dry brush in the Southern California mountains.

Officials said the fire no longer posed a threat to homes in Sierra Madre, 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles. But, they said, it will take another four to seven days to bring the blaze completely under control.

Of the 1,000 people who were evacuated since the fire broke out, about 300 were allowed to return home by 10 p.m. Monday local time (1 a.m. Tuesday ET).

Classes will resume Tuesday morning at Sierra Madre School.

The blaze began Saturday in an area that has not seen fires in more than 30 years. That means it has a great deal of kindling -- such as dry brush and shrubs amid fallen leaves and branches -- to fuel the flames, local authorities told CNN. And the terrain is rugged, hampering firefighters' efforts.

Authorities said the fire was man-made but they did not know exactly what caused it.

Four firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze, officials said. Only one small building has been damaged. E-mail to a friend

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