Mario Tama/Getty Images A firefighter works to control a flare-up at a mulch supplier during the Saddleridge Fire in Sylmar, California, on Saturday, October 12. Wildfires burn in Los Angeles area

Mario Tama/Getty Images A firefighter works to control a flare-up at a mulch supplier during the Saddleridge Fire in Sylmar, California, on Saturday, October 12.

The Saddleridge Fire, which started Thursday, has destroyed 31 homes and burned more than 7,500 acres, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The blaze is now 19% contained and thousands of evacuees were allowed to return home after evacuation orders were lifted Saturday.

The fire started around 9 p.m. local time Thursday and jumped the 210 and 5 freeways, and some parts of the roads were closed in both directions as orange embers lit up the night sky. By late Thursday it had gutted 60 acres; but some four hours later, it had grown to 4,600 acres, fire officials said.