CAMARILLO, Calif., May 5 (UPI) -- Some fire crews battling the Springs fire in California's Ventura County were sent home Sunday as the blaze reached 60 percent containment, officials said.
The Springs fire was sparked Thursday and has so far burned 28,000 acres and damaged 15 homes and five commercial buildings, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Tom Piranio, a spokesman for Cal Fire, said the number of fire companies has dropped from 247 on Saturday to 212 Sunday
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Fernando Herrera said the fire is expected to be fully contained by Monday.
An evacuation order for the area has been lifted, allowing about about 5,000 residents to return home.
Some officials accredited the drop in the fire's intensity to a change in the weather on Saturday, which was cooler and had a light breeze.
"The activity has dropped dramatically," said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Mike Parkes about the fire in relation to the weather.
"This isn't baby-sitting quite yet," said Ventura County Fire Capt. Wayne Farber. "We have to put a line around the fire. ... Cross your fingers there will be rain in a couple days. ... There's still a lot of hard, dirty work to still be done."
