Fears have been raised that shifting winds could spark burning embers to spread the fire through the rugged northern edge of LA.
Flames have ripped through 2,400 hectares in the La Tuna canyon area in the San Fernando Valley after breaking out on Friday destroying three homes and damaging another property.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: “We’ve turned the corner, but this is not over.
“With winds this strong, anything can happen.”
A total of 1,4000 people were evacuated from their homes on Sunday afternoon but the progress made by crews helped to allow scores of families to return to their properties.
Four firefighters have suffered dehydration or minor burns in the blaze.
Mr Garcetti added: “We do not have this fire contained.
“But we do have a good sense of, in the next day or two, how we can bring this fire to rest.”
The knock-on effect of the fire was a stretch of the 210 freeway was closed for several days.
Los Angeles has suffered much larger wildfires, which have burned for weeks.
Major fires have also broken out in other areas of western America as California has been in the grip of a heatwave and strong winds have stoked the wildfire in LA.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said: “The biggest challenge and risk is the wind.”
States of emergency have already been declared in Montana and Washington state leading thousands of residents to be evacuated.
Temperatures have soared to 38 degrees Celsius in recent days.
Burbank resident Tracy Goldman, who saw the flames fizzle 150 feet away from her home which is at the base of the Verdugo Mountains, said it was terrifying watching the descending flames.
She said: “Everything was on fire. This was like something I’ve never seen before.”
The cause of the fire is unknown but it is not believed to be arson but it is hoped it will be contained within days.
Carol Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said: “The gusty winds aren’t going to help,” Smith said. “But depending on if we were to get significant, measurable rain over it, yeah, that would help.”