A wildfire that had burned more than 2,000 acres and forced more than 1,000 people from their homes north of Los Angeles was only smoldering early Monday, but worries were rampant as several hours of severe winds were expected to hit the region later in the day.

Fire officials were working quickly to surround the blaze 20 miles north of downtown that they said may be a "sleeping giant" if predicted Santa Ana wind gusts of up to 60 mph arrive.

"There's been no open flames for hours," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Ron Haralson said Sunday night. "But the winds are going to grow and we risk a flare-up."

The fire, which broke out about 2 a.m. Sunday, burned through 2,066 acres of rugged terrain in the Angeles National Forest, destroying a house, a garage, several sheds and three mobile homes. More than 1,200 people had evacuated and were advised not to return to their homes overnight.