Mixed report on California wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Firefighters were making progress against one raging Southern California wildfire Friday when another spread in Burbank's, Wildwood Canyon wilderness.

The Topanga fire -- which broke out along the Los Angeles-Ventura county line Wednesday -- had burned more than 20,000 acres by Friday afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported. More than 3,000 firefighters on the scene got help from the weather Friday, as winds shifted direction and reduced in intensity.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told CNN firefighters might soon switch from a defensive, containment-oriented operation to a more aggressive approach.

"They're in a position to do that now," he said.

Yaroslavsky said the fire was 20 percent contained Friday afternoon -- up from 5 percent at the beginning of the day.

More than 800 people were evacuated from the Topanga area, but officials told the Los Angeles Times Friday most were being allowed to return. More than 2,000 residences, 50 commercial properties and 100 outbuildings were threatened, but the fire had destroyed just one home at last report.

The Wildwood Canyon fire began Thursday in the Verdugo Mountains. Burbank fire officials told the newspaper about 500 acres had burned and no structures were involved as of Friday afternoon.