LOS ANGELES -- A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California's sprawling wildfires finally gave fire crews a chance to fight back against some blazes Wednesday.

One death has been reported -- that contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude in 2003. And while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week's fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people -- 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

In San Diego County, one in three homes have been ordered evacuated. More than 1,600 homes have been destroyed, and nearly 600 square miles have burned.

"They are more determined that people leave," said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

"It was very intense. On the call, it was like, 'This area, go! This area, go!' In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, 'Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave."'

Authorities said that all Temecula Valley Unified School District schools and child care facilities would be closed on Thursday, as would all Murrieta Valley Unified Schools.

On Wednesday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tankers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains, near Lake Arrowhead.

"They're taking it down considerably," said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.

Authorities said they had largely contained many of the fires north of San Diego, and all five fires in Los Angeles County were about 50 percent contained or more.

Despite the progress, none of the six major blazes in San Diego County was more than 15 percent contained, and those fires threatened more than 8,500 houses. The top priority was a fire in San Bernardino County that threatened 6,000 homes and continued to rage out of control.

So far, this week's fires have destroyed about 1,500 homes and burned 674 square miles across five counties, from Ventura in the north all the way into Mexico.

Property damage has reached at least $1 billion in San Diego County alone, and President Bush signed a major disaster declaration for California. The president was scheduled to visit the region Thursday.

According to estimates, nearly 1 million southern Californians have been displaced in the biggest evacuation in state history as a result of at least 16 simultaneous wildfires. More than 350,000 houses have been evacuated.

The fires have injured 21 firefighters and at least 24 other people.

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State and FBI authorities announced an investigation Wednesday in connection with one of the fires. Investigators were at the site where one of the fires started.

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President George W. Bush on Wednesday delcared Los Angeles, Orange, and five other Southern California counties major disaster areas, clearing teh way for federal aid for victims of the widfires. Bush, who mobilized the federal disaster relief establishment Tuesday, has scheduled a visit to California Thursday.

More than 410,000 acres burned by Wednesday night.

Slide, Green Valley Fires

Crews are attempting to prevent a fire from crossing Highway 18 Wednesday in the San Bernardino County National Forest.

"These highways are the lifeblood to this community," said Terri Kasinga of Caltrans. "The damage on the roadways is minimal. There is a little bit of guardrail damage on 330. But right now this fire is not close to being out."

The fire crossed portions of the highway late Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. Forest Service called for voluntary evacuations Tuesday afternoon for the city of Highland due to increasing flames moving south of Running Springs.

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Angeles National Forest Closed Due To Wildfires

A reverse 911 call was placed to all Highland residents advising there was pending danger from the Slide Fire moving southwest from Highway 18 and Highway 330.

Evacuation centers have been established at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino and the Victorville Fairgrounds, 14800 Seventh St. in Victorville, KNBC's Justin Jaeger reported.

The Angeles National Forest was closed Tuesday because of the wildfires. The two big swaths of parkland north of Los Angeles will be closed to all public uses until the high fire danger passes, said Kathy Peterson of the U.S. Forest Service. For updated fire information, the public can call 626-821-6700.

Santa Clarita Valley Fires

Firefighters on Wednesday hope that lighter winds will help in the fight against three major wildfires that have burned more than 86,000-acres in the Santa Clarita Valley since Saturday.

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Conditions Improve In Santa Clarita Valley

Tuesday AM Video: LA County

Firefighters on Wednesday fully contained the Ranch Fire Wednesday. The Ranch Fire, the first to start, broke out Saturday northwest of Castaic near Townsend Peak. The wildfire has charred more than 51,300 acres, destroyed seven structures and 14 boats in a storage area, fire officials said.

Authorities said late Wednesday that the Buckweed, Canyon and Magic fires in Los Angeles County were all fully contained.

The Buckweed Fire, which began Sunday in the Agua Dulce area, had scorched an estimated 38,300 acres and was about 94 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Magic Fire, the last of the three big fires, broke out Monday near The Old Road and Magic Mountain Parkway in the Stevenson Ranch area. No structures were damaged, and no one was hurt, said Deputy Ed Hernandez of the county Office of Emergency Management.

A fourth fire in the Santa Clarita Valley broke out Monday night and burned at least two acres of land before it was contained on Tuesday. A few mobile homes were involved with flames and a condominium complex was threatened at one point in that fire. The blaze forced the closure of the southbound and northbound Antelope Valley Freeway, north and south of Sand Canyon Road.

Malibu Fire

The 4,500-acre Malibu fire, which first flared on Sunday, was listed as 75 percent contained on Wednesday, with no active flames reported, and evacuated residents were being allowed back into their homes.

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2 Killed In PCH Crash

"There are no active evacuations at this time," Deputy Johnie Jones, at the county's Office of Emergency Management, said this morning.

A community meeting was scheduled at 7 p.m. at the Agoura/Calabasas Community Center, 27040 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas.

Six homes -- including a landmark castle and at least three oceanfront residences -- the Malibu Presbyterian Church and five businesses in the Malibu Colony shopping center were destroyed in the early hours of the blaze, which roared out of Malibu Canyon before dawn on Sunday. All together, 22 structures were damaged or destroyed. The fire, which was burning east from Malibu Canyon, was halted before reaching Las Flores Canyon.

How the fire started has not been determined, but it is believed to have been sparked near Malibu Canyon and Piuma roads by power lines blown down by Santa Ana winds that were clocked at hurricane force in the area.

Pacific Coast Highway was reopened Tuesday, but some canyon roads remained closed to through traffic, including Malibu Canyon Road from Civic Center Way to Piuma Road; Las Flores Canyon Road, Carbon Canyon Road, and Tuna Canyon Road between PCH and Saddle Peak Road.

Orange County (Santiago Fire)

About 600 firefighters waging a fierce battle against the 20,000-acre Santiago Canyon fire, which damaged or destroyed 17 homes, took advantage of a wind lull to achieve 50 percent containment of the blaze Wendesday, officials said.

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All home damage was in Modjeska Canyon, which was attacked by flames that crossed from the west side of Santiago Canyon Road to the east Tuesday. The canyon is dotted with older, fire-vulnerable wood homes.

Authorities are conducting an arson investigation.

Temecula Fires

Two wildfires burning in close proximity near Temecula were about 85 percent contained Wednesday, and investigators believe the blazes were intentionally set, a fire department official said.

Both blazes were in the general area of Rancho Vista and Rancho California roads and had burned about 200 acres each since breaking out late Monday, according to Capt. Fernando Herrera of the Riverside County Fire Department.

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Insurance Claims Could Reach $500 Million

The wildfires have resulted in 1,760 insurance claims, the Insurance Information Network of California reported Tuesday.

More than 1,600 structures have been destroyed in the fires. By the time the wildfires are extinguished, insurance claims could reach $500 million, according to the nonprofit insurance information group.

The 1991 Oakland Hills fire remains the state's most destructive brush fire, destroying 2,900 homes and resulting in $1.7 billion in insurance claims.

"We're not yet done with these very unpredictable fires, which will clearly cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and are likely to reach at least $500 million in insured losses," said Candysse Miller, the network's executive director.

The California Department of Insurance issued an emergency declaration Wednesday to clear the way for out-of-state adjusters to help handle the expected onslaught of claims filed as a result of the Southern California wildfires.

The declaration allowing non-CDI licensed insurance adjusters to process claims will help speed up the process so people can rebuild their homes as quickly as possible, said Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.

"For many, the first step on the road to recovery is to cut through the red tape, have their loss documented and processed for a claim. We want to remove any unnecessary delays to the system and make sure we have enough adjusters on the job," he said.

Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the opening of four assistance centers in San Diego County and one in Los Angeles County to help people displaced by the fires get information on how to replace records, file insurance claims and apply for assistance and housing.

Previous Stories:

• October 24, 2007: President Declares 7 SoCal Counties 'Major Disaster Areas'
• October 24, 2007: Nearly 1 Million Displaced In State's Biggest Ever Evacuation
• October 24, 2007: Investigators: Temecula Fires Might Be Arson Cases
• October 24, 2007: Malibu Fire: 75 Percent Contained, No Active Flames Reported
• October 24, 2007: San Diego Fire Containment May Not Come Until Nov. 4
• October 24, 2007: 10,000 San Bernardino Co. Homes Threatened; Highland Evacuated
• October 24, 2007: FEMA Release: Federal Aid For California Wildfire Victims
• October 24, 2007: Many Schools Remain Closed Wednesday In Wildfire Areas
• October 23, 2007: Santa Clarita Valley: Crews Prevent Fire From Crossing 5 Freeway
• October 23, 2007: Call For Wildfire Donation May Be Scam
• October 23, 2007: Mail Pick Up Available For Wildfire Evacuees
• October 23, 2007: San Diego Fire Officials Reinforce Some Witch Fire Evacuation Orders
• October 23, 2007: OC Wildfire Burns Homes In Modjeska Canyon
• October 23, 2007: Thousands Lose Power In SoCal Due To Winds, Fire
• October 23, 2007: 500 Firefighters Redeployed From Malibu To Other Fires
• October 23, 2007: Ways To Donate, Help Fire Evacuees
• October 23, 2007: Firefighters Protect Homes In Foothill Ranch
• October 23, 2007: 4th Wildfire Quickly Contained In Santa Clarita Valley
• October 23, 2007: Buckweed Fire 27 Percent Contained; 37,800 Acres Burned
• October 23, 2007: Fire-Fanning Santa Ana Winds Should Diminish By Tuesday Night
• October 23, 2007: Ranch Fire Near Castaic Burns 41,000 Acres; 10 Percent Contained
• October 23, 2007: San Diego Fire 'Like Armageddon' Says Firefighter
• October 23, 2007: Hundreds Of OC Homes Threatened By Santiago Canyon Fire
• October 23, 2007: Check For Continuing School Closures Due To Southland Wildfires
• October 23, 2007: Angeles National Forest Closed To Public Due To Wildfires
• October 22, 2007: Power Outages Affect More Than 400,000 SCE Customers
• October 22, 2007: County Issues Health Warning During Southland Fires
• October 22, 2007: Metrolink Trains Diverted Near Pedley Due To Electrical Outage
• October 21, 2007: Homes, Church Destroyed In 2,000-Acre Malibu Fire
• October 21, 2007: Horses, Large Animals Evacuated From Topanga Canyon
• October 21, 2007: Malibu Residents Advised Against Outdoor Activities
• October 21, 2007: T-CEP Warns Residents Of Possible Evacuation
• October 20, 2007: So Cal Braces For Windy Weekend