LANCASTER – Cooler temperatures and calmer winds on Monday helped firefighters tackle a 250-acre wildfire, officials said.

The so-called South Fire had no active flame fronts but was still smoldering across steep terrain in a canyon southwest of the town of Green Valley, about 25 miles west of Lancaster, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Brady Robert said.

“It's laying down, being quiet,” he said. Full containment was expected by Wednesday.

Temperatures Monday were expected to top out at 85 degrees, cooler than the weekend.

The fire was close to about 100 homes, but none were immediately threatened, Robert said.

Three firefighters sustained minor injuries. The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Meanwhile, a cluster of five lightning-started wildfires burning in remote wilderness in Los Padres National Forest, about 20 miles east of Santa Maria, was 40 percent contained.

Forest spokesman Jack Owen said cooler weather was helping firefighters in that blaze as well. and full containment was expected Thursday.

“It is pretty well knocked down,” Owen said.