( CNN ) -- Mandatory evacuations were lifted Wednesday for nearly 1,700 homes in the path of a wildfire near Rancho Cucamonga , California , but fire officials urged some residents to keep on an eye on the wind-whipped blaze , authorities said . The fire , fanned by strong wind gusts and high temperatures , began in the Etiwanda Preserve in San Bernardino National Forest at about 8 a.m. local time , according to Cal Fire . By late afternoon , it had grown to more than 1,000 acres , the agency said . Four schools -- a high school , intermediate school and two elementary schools -- were evacuated , and a temporary evacuation center has been established in Rancho Cucamonga , the San Bernardino County Sheriff 's Department said . While mandatory evacuations were lifted , a voluntary evacuation remained in effect for neighborhoods within possible range of the fire , authorities said . At least one building has been damaged and a number of others are being threatened by the fire , Cal Fire said . More than 700 firefighters and 55 fire engines , were battling the blaze dubbed the Etiwanda Fire , according to InciWeb , a U.S. multiagency fire response website . With wind gusts clocked at 60 mph , fire officials say they have been unable to launch firefighting aircraft . `` The big challenge on these fires is the wind and the unpredictability , and with winds like this we ca n't put up aircraft . It 's just too dangerous . So we try and figure out where it 's going to end up and put our resources there , '' Bob Poole of the U.S. Forestry Service told CNN affiliate KCBS . The fire came the same day the National Weather Service issued a `` red flag warning '' for the area , citing the fire danger posed by high temperatures , strong winds and dry conditions . Rancho Cucamonga is a suburb of San Bernardino .
NEW : Mandatory evacuations lifted for nearly 1,700 homes . NEW : More than 700 firefighters and 55 engines are battling the blaze . At least one building has been damaged , fire officials say . National Weather Service had issued a fire warning .