Sierra Madre Fire

Firefighter John Hall, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire, monitors a wildfire Monday, April 28, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif. Firefighters struggled in tough conditions Monday to push back the stubborn wildfire burning above homes in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.

An air tanker drops flame retardant on a slope Monday, April 28, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif. Firefighters are trying to contain the wildfire that's burned nearly 500 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains east of L.A. More than 580 firefighters are on the ground trying to keep the flames from reaching homes in the foothills below.

Firefighters confer as they protect homes from a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008. All of Sierra Madre's schools canceled Monday classes, and the 400-acre wildfire forced the evacuation of at least 1,000 people from their homes in the foothills. Authorities said no homes have burned since the fire began Saturday.

An inmate hand crew takes a break at a brush fire near Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008. A flare up early Monday morning caused the fire to push toward and threaten numerous homes in the town of Sierra Madre.

Firefighters protect homes from a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif. on Monday, April 28, 2008.

Firefighters protect homes from a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008. The blaze started Saturday night in the Angeles National Forest north of Sierra Madre and grew to 400 acres threatening homes and forcing evacuations.

A firefighter sprays water on a house to protect it from a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008.

California fire firefighters protect homes from a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008.

A wind-driven brush fire burns along the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008.

A firefighter looks toward a wind-driven brush fire in the foothills of Sierra Madre, Calif., on Monday, April 28, 2008, as he carries a hose.

Los Angeles county hand crew and fire fighters work to put out hot spots in the foothills of Sierra Madre Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif.

The wildfire broke out in a popular hiking area and blackened the steep slopes of foothills outside Los Angeles and led to evacuation orders for residents of about 550 homes, authorities said Sunday, April 27, 2008.

An airplane drops flame retardant on a slope Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif.

Susan Kelso, second from left, Jason Saracco, left, carrying their cat, and Debbie Engelhard, right, explain to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alvarez that they are returning to their homes Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif., after evacuating Saturday night because of the wildfire.

A firefighting helicopter makes a drop on a slope Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif. A wildfire burning on the steep slopes of the foothills near Pasadena forced a fresh round of mandatory home evacuations Sunday.

Firefighters make their way up a slope Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Sierra Madre, Calif.