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SIERRA MADRE, California — An early season wildfire that erupted near foothills in Los Angeles forced more than 1000 people to flee from homes. Firefighters got an upper hand against fire which slowly made its way through dense bushes near Los Angeles. About 500 firefighters attacked the 400-acre fire, aided by two helicopters and water-dropping air tankers, said Elisa Weaver, spokeswoman for the city of Sierra Madre. Residents evacuated at least 550 homes Saturday night and Sunday, but none had burned.

This is pretty serious, Weaver said. Some of these areas have not burned in over 40 years.

Helicopters dropped water on a steep ridge above Sierra Madre near Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park, about 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles and just east of Pasadena. A fixed-wing water tanker also dropped flame retardant.

According to Sierra Madre spokesman James Carlson, crews had the fire 30 percent contained by Sunday evening. Light winds and rising humidity were aiding firefighters, who hoped to have the blaze fully contained within 4-7 days, Carlson said.

It’s very steep, inaccessible terrain, and it’s very heavy brush. Very difficult and arduous labor for these crews. You can’t get bulldozers into the majority of where these fingers of fire run.

said Batallion Chief Tim Davis of the Forest Service at a news conference.

The blaze also stranded 50 guests from a wedding party at the Chantry Flats ranger’s station on Saturday until they were airlifted out Sunday afternoon, Weaver said. It took five helicopter trips from the ranger’s station to the parking area where the wedding party’s cars were. The party then was escorted out by road.

Two shelters have been set up for evacuees at a senior center and a church.