(AP) -- The weather forecast later this week could mean problems in the battle against wildfires in Utah and California.

But officials in Utah say light winds yesterday allowed firefighters to make "outstanding" inroads against a wildfire that has killed three people and burned more than 54 square miles. About two dozen evacuated residents have been allowed to return home.

Authorities are letting the fire burn, except where homes and other buildings could be threatened. The blaze is ten percent contained.

Forecasters are predicting temperatures near 100 later this week with thunder and lightning but not much rain.

In Southern California, firefighters also made progress yesterday against wildfires from Santa Barbara to San Diego but the already parched region is heading into a late-week heat wave.

The biggest California fire, at more than 12-thousand acres, should be contained later today.