Santa Catalina Island's main town was out of immediate danger Sunday as firefighters made progress against the 4,200-acre wildfire that reached the edge of Avalon. The fire, which began Thursday afternoon, was 35 percent contained as of early Saturday, fire officials said.
Full containment was expected by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, fire officials said.
Residents began returning to Catalina Island late Friday, but tourists were urged to stay away for the weekend.
"It's very difficult to look at a TV camera and say, 'Folks, don't come,' but that's what we have to do right now," said Wayne Griffin of the Catalina Chamber of Commerce.
A few homes were damaged before firefighters stopped the fire from advancing into the city. Foggy, damp conditions on Saturday morning aided firefighting efforts.
"It is a very fast-moving and dangerous fire, and I want to commend the firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service for coordinating so quickly and working together," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said during a news conference in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, where another fire scorched more than 800 acres of brush this week.
More than 700 firefighters, 44 fire engines, nine helicopters and five air tankers battled the blaze, according to Schwarzenegger.
"Everyone is working very hard to make sure the people are safe and the animals are safe," Schwarzenegger said. "I urge everyone to take the greatest caution and to cooperate with the authorities, for their safety and for your safety."
The fire prompted an exodus of thousands of residents and visitors. By early Friday, about 3,300 people had been evacuated from the island, a resort isle more than 20 miles off the coast of Southern California.
Some residents began returning to the island Friday morning. Several evacuated residents were aboard a 2 p.m. Catalina Express boat from Long Beach en route back to the island, according to company officials.
Capt. Mike Brown of the county Fire Department said no civilians, residents or visitors, were supposed to be going back to the island. But Andrew Estrada at the Avalon Sheriff's Station said, "Residents are returning slowly but surely."
Most of the evacuees were visitors, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Andre Gougis. He said about 1,700 people remained, excluding firefighters.
Dozens of fire engines arrived on Santa Catalina Island aboard giant military hovercraft from the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton on Friday morning.
The blaze was fought on the ground, with additional strikes by water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft after daybreak Friday.
One firefighter suffered heat and smoke inhalation. A wildlife expert said two eaglets recently born on the island were not immediately threatened.
The fire is "not in the area where the eagle aeries are," said Bob Rhein of the Catalina Island Conservancy.
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