Firefighters made big strides toward getting ahead of a forest fire in mountains northwest of Santa Barbara, Calif. and stopped several smaller blazes around Southern California, AP reported.

The wildfire had carved its way through 3.2 square miles of chaparral, oak and pine Tuesday, May 28 but by day's end firefighters had it 65 percent contained and residents from a few dozen homes that were evacuated Monday were allowed to return, fire spokesman Manuel Madrigal said.

More than 600 firefighters, supported by a dozen aircraft, were on the lines about 10 miles northwest of the scenic coastal city.

At the fire's height, thousands of campers and day visitors scrambled out of the forest on the Memorial Day holiday, and about 50 homes, mainly cabins and vacation rentals, were evacuated.

It burned a U.S. Forest Service garage and two vehicles.

Firefighters took advantage of calm midday winds to start to surround the blaze as it moved east along the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The fire was burning near Paradise Road, which meanders along the north side of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Santa Barbara and neighboring communities sit on the other side of the coastal range, which rises quickly from near the Pacific shoreline to peaks topping 3,000 feet.