Improved weather conditions allowed firefighters to increase containment on the blaze raging northwest of Los Angeles and keep it from growing over the weekend, but residents from about 1,000 evacuated homes still had to stay away.

Authorities said firefighters battled fierce, howling winds and rescued people as a fast-moving Southern California wildfire exploded in size.

Crews are battling wildfires on both U.S. coasts with more than 130 homes and structures destroyed out West. Firefighters in New York and New Jersey have been racing to battle dozens of blazes under the driest conditions in decades.