The Riverside County Sheriff's Department lifted evacuation orders at 11 a.m. for the communities of Idyllwild, Fern Valley and Pine Cove, from which thousands had fled the advancing flames five days before. Authorities said only local residents and business people would be allowed to return.
Evacuation orders for several smaller nearby communities had been lifted earlier in the day.
Some 6,000 people fled the idyllic little towns that dot the San Jacinto Mountains between Palm Springs and Hemet after the fire broke out Monday and quickly raged across the heavily wooded area. Twenty-three structures, including the seven homes, were destroyed. There were no reports of injuries.
With the arrival of an inch and a half rain Sunday, firefighters began to beat back the flames and had the blaze just about halfway contained.
"With diminished fire activity, firefighters made great progress with line construction, particularly along the east side towards Palm Springs," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller.
The fire was still far from extinguished, however.
The thunderstorm helping douse the flames could also bring lightning, wind and flooding, said Miller, all hazardous conditions for fire crews.
The fire was less than two miles from Idyllwild on its western flank. It was a similar distance from Palm Springs below on the desert floor, where an enormous plume of smoke could be seen.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which carries people nearly 6,000 feet up a rugged canyon to a mountain peak overlooking the tourist resort, was closed Sunday because of unhealthy air quality. Crews were also building fire breaks in the area.
Authorities have said the fire was human-caused, but wouldn't say whether it was accidental or intentional.
More than 2,600 firefighters battled the blaze Sunday, using bulldozers, helicopters and other equipment.
