LOS ANGELES — Cooler, wetter weather gave at least some temporary help Wednesday to crews battling dangerous wildfires in Southern California.

San Gabriel Complex Fire

Improved weather in the aftermath of a severe heat wave allowed firefighters to make progress against two fires in the steep San Gabriel Mountains 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Some evacuations below in the foothill city of Duarte were being lifted, but the calm was not expected to last.

"We will have stronger winds, so it could push the fire," incident commander Mike Wakoski said.

He expected gusts of up to 25 mph in the afternoon and evening, posing additional problems for hundreds of firefighters attacking the flames. A fleet of helicopters, air tankers and other resources are helping fight the fires, totaling about 7.5 square miles.

"They're starting to make good progress, but there's a lot of line to put in, and it's in a real inaccessible area," Wakoski said. "It's very hard for the firefighters to engage the fire safely, but they are out there doing so."

No homes have been lost, though flames have come close at times. More than 700 homes were ordered evacuated earlier this week, but it was not immediately clear how many were cleared for return Wednesday.

Border Fire

Near the Mexican border, a wildfire that forced the evacuation of some 600 homes about 40 miles southeast of San Diego grew to 6,500 acres and is only 15 percent contained.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said Wednesday morning that two homes and 11 outbuildings have been destroyed, with one other home damaged and 1,000 structures threatened.

Falling temperatures, rising humidity and cloud cover has helped, said Capt. Kendal Bortisser of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But firefighters still must deal with rough terrain and vegetation that has not burned in decades, he said.