BEULAH, Colo. -- Nearly 5,000 residents who were evacuated from their neighborhoods by the 12,666-acre Mason Gulch Fire were allowed to return home Wednesday afternoon.

Fresh crews and more aircraft joined the battle Tuesday against the blaze in dry, steep terrain in the Wet Mountains about 150 miles south of Denver.

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Thrilva Garrison was among about 100 residents whose evacuation orders were lifted late Monday. After four days in a Canon City motel, she revelled in routine activities that seemed like luxuries.

"Sleeping in my own bed. Taking a shower. Taking food out for dinner," Garrison said. "I'm having a good T-bone steak tonight and a baked potato.

Some returned to find ribbons tied to mailboxes as signals to firefighters that residents had been told to evacuate, or that the homes could be defended by firefighters. Wood piles, gasoline cans and propane grills were moved to open spaces.

Colorado City and Rye had been on stand-by notice for evacuation, but that advisory was canceled Tuesday.

Meanwhile, southwest of the fire's perimeter, thousands of Beulah residents were allowed home after 4 p.m. Wednesday. The sheriff's office set up check points to make sure only residents were allowed to return.

"We don't want a lot of people going up there to see the burn area. There are still a lot of firefighters and their trucks must be able to get around," said Pueblo Sheriff Dan Corsentino.

Fire information officer Brian Scott said flames had advanced to about a few dozen yards of some homes.

No injuries were reported and no homes burned, but more than 1,000 houses, outbuildings and other structures were listed as threatened.

About 820 firefighters, eight helicopters, nine air tankers and 56 fire trucks were on the scene.

The lightning-caused fire, which started July 6 and has cost $3.8 million to fight so far, was 60 percent contained Wednesday but had the potential to erupt again, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dave Steinke said.

"There's enough interior islands (within the charred area) that are unburned that another big wind event could get this thing going again," Steinke said.