(BBC) - Weather forecasts have raised hopes of some respite from the wildfires raging out of control across southern California for the last four days.
Forecasters say the Santa Ana winds, which fuelled the spread of the flames and had reached hurricane strength, are just starting to die out.
But correspondents say firefighters still face a huge task in controlling the fires, as no rain is expected.
President George W Bush is flying to the area to see the damage for himself.
Speaking before he left, he assured California residents that the federal government would provide the resources, manpower and equipment needed to fight the fires.
"It's a sad situation out there in Southern California," he said.
"I fully understand that the people have got a lot of anguish in their hearts, and they just need to know a lot of folks care about them."
Mr Bush has declared seven counties in the state as a major disaster area.
About one million people have had to leave their homes, officials say.
Among the worst affected areas is around San Diego, where evacuation centres are struggling to provide shelter for more than 300,000 people.
San Diego police said on Thursday that two bodies had been found in the burned ruins of a house in Poway.
One death directly linked to the fires was reported on Sunday and authorities say there have been several other deaths during the evacuations.
The fires have destroyed more than 1,600 homes and the material damage is estimated to have risen to more than $1bn.
Police say at least one of the larger fires may have been started deliberately.