Firefighters have increased containment on a wildfire in northern California with the state fire chief saying the situation is improving, according to CBS News.

Crews have contained 65 percent of the blaze, up from 50 percent on Sunday, California Battalion Chief Scott McLean said, adding that the situation isn't completely under control.

"We're still very cautious," he said about the blaze, which is being called the Sand Fire. "We're not going to get complacent, but it's looking very good."

So far, the fire has burned six square miles in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, near vineyards in California wine country. If crews can continue to contain the fire, the area's 1,200 residents may not be forced to evacuate.

The Sand Fire has ruined 13 homes and 38 other buildings in Amador and El Dorado counties. Around 450 homes were placed under mandatory evacuation orders.

Full containment of the fire is expected by Friday, earlier than initial estimates. McLean, however, said that he wasn't sure when those who had been evacuated would be allowed to return to their homes.

The fire started Friday when a vehicle drove over dry vegetation. So far it has burned 3,800 acres.

Another fire near Yosemite National Park has burned at least 2,100 acres and resulted in mandatory evacuations, the Wall Street Journal reported. Devastating wildfires have become fairly common in California, as the state is in the middle of a three-year drought. This year, the state has dodged any fires as big as in years past.

Other states in the western U.S. are battling fires, including Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Firefighters in Oregon are facing the nation's largest fire, the Buzzard Complex, which is 618 square miles. By Sunday that fire was almost fully contained.

Crews in Washington also are dealing with a large fire, the Carlton Complex, which is the biggest in the state's history. It is not fully contained but has not had any recent flare ups.