Southern California Wildfires - Day 4

A Glimmer of Hope

The devastating wildfires in Southern California have caused at least $1 billion in damage in San Diego County alone, officials said Wednesday, while firefighters hoped easing wind would give them an advantage in stopping the flames. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Firefighters gather in Running Springs in the San Bernardino Mountains early in the morning.(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A television news crew lights up the rubble of a Running Springs home as smoky haze covers the area.(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A Huntington Beach firefighting strike team is set up in front of a home in the Santiago Estates community as the Santiago fire burns in the hills beyond.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Newport Beach Battalion Chief Chip Duncan keeps an eye on the Santiago fire in Orange County early this morning.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A charred car is surrounded by smoldering homes along Elm Lane in Del Dios early this morning.(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Smoke from the Witch fire in northern San Diego County shrouds Lake Hodges in Del Dios early this morning.(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A sky crane helicopter being used for the fire fighting dumps its load of water to slow the wind whipped Stevenson Ranch fire as it rages out of control in Valencia, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other officials stand next to a burned home at Lake Arrowhead, Calif. as they toured the area. (AP Photo/Pool, Jim Wilson)

A home in the path of a fast moving wildfire burns in the northern part of Poway, California. (Fred Greaves/Reuters)

A wildfire burns out of control as it moves towards Lake Arrowhead in Running Springs, California. (AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

A home and motor home, at left, burn in Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Plumes of smoke from wildfires are seen above the Lake Arrowhead, Calif. (AP Photo/Pool, Jim Wilson)

A line of houses burn out of control at the Witch Creek Fire in Ramona, California.

(Fred Greaves/Reuters)

A tractor burns next to a house that caught fire in the patch of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California.
( REUTERS/Fred Greaves )

A firefighter knocks down flames on a house in the path of the Harris Ranch Fire in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California. REUTERS/Fred Greaves

A wildfire burns in the San Bernardino mountains near Running Springs, Calif.
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A house goes up in flames during a wildfire in the Fredalba community near Running Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)