By Khalida Sarwari
Fire crews in the Santa Cruz Mountains today were mopping up about 300 feet around the Lockheed Fire, which they expect to fully contain Thursday, a Cal Fire official said.
Hundreds of displaced residents returned to their homes Tuesday as Cal Fire canceled more mandatory evacuation orders prompted by the wildfire.
The extent of threat to homes has lessened, but residents are advised to be cautious of unburned fuels that remain in the area, according to Cal Fire.
Nearly 2,400 people had been evacuated since August 12, when crews began battling the fire, which has now burned about 7,243 acres.
About 20 people who live in the area of Warnella and Blodgetts roads are still displaced, according to Cal Fire.
The blaze was 80 percent contained as of this afternoon and Cal Fire officials anticipated that milder temperatures would assist them through Thursday.
At least seven firefighters have suffered minor injuries in the fire, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire officials believe the fire originated in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.
The blaze has damaged one outbuilding and destroyed another but no homes have burned.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.