Antonio Antonetti said he and some neighbors made a stand during the Eaton Fire in Altadena, dousing structures with water from garden hoses. It worked.

A mom and daughter, a cat-loving stage prop designer and a “Forest”-dwelling contractor are among the few who’ve gotten back to see what’s left of their homes. Each fled in a chaotic scramble last week as the winds and embers picked up.

Containment is growing on the Los Angeles County wildfires, but it may be a long time before residents in the burn areas will be allowed back home.