Pres. Bush To Visit Wildfire Region On Thursday, Pledges Washington's Support

San Diego, CA (AHN) - The largest evacuation in California history is underway due to wildfires in the state's southern region. The historical precedence and devastation prompted President Bush to begin his work day on Wednesday by participating in a teleconference with officials in the embattled state. He's also scheduled to tour the devastation on Thursday.

The president wants to "witness firsthand" the struggle against the blazes and make sure that state and local authorities are getting what they need from Washington, White House spokesperson Dana Perino said on Tuesday.

Currently a total of 20 major fires are blazing with only three contained. Officials are blaming one death, 700 injuries, the destruction of more than 1100 homes and the closure of a portion of I-5 being close on the flames.

San Diego Fire Department Battalion Chief Bruce Cartelli described to CNN scenes of "utter devastation" with hundreds of homes lost and "many hundreds" of others damaged.

"It's probably the worst significant event in my career of 36 years," Cartelli said.

"It will not end ... until it reaches the ocean or the winds turn around."

15 mph wind dusts are expected in the region, down from yesterday. However the National Weather Service said a red-flag warning for extreme gusty winds was in effect through 3 p.m. PT (6 p.m. ET) Wednesday. One bit of good news for firefighters is forecasters say they should see an end to the Santa Ana winds that have fueled the fires by Thursday.

The wildfires which ignited over the weekend have charred more than 400,000 acres from the Mexican border to northern Los Angeles County and inland into the San Bernardino Mountains since the weekend. Officials have evacuated close to 350,000 homes in San Diego County alone, its this particular region that the worst of the blazes are raging. Among those forced to flee are more than 4,000 military personnel from the area's military base near Camp Pendleton.

Qualcomm stadium home of t San Diego Chargers is now home to 12,000 evacuees. In the parking lot outside thousands more filled up some of the stadium's 18,000-vehicle capacity, 122 acre space. An aerial tour shows tents and cots being placed next to vehicles. Tammy McCall told CNN, "You never think you're going to be in this kind of position. it doesn't hit you until you're here with all the wonderful people that it actually happened."

Calls that firefighters are being stretched thin grew louder as news that some of the national guard typically stationed in the state have been diverted to other parts of the country and the world for other duties by the Bush Administration.

Orange County Fire Chief Chip Prather told reporters that firefighters' lives were being placed in danger because not enough crews are on the ground. He said a quick deployment of aircraft could have corralled a massive blaze near Irvine.

"It is an absolute fact: Had we had more air resources, we would have been able to control this fire," he said.

According to Gov. Schwarzenegger prison inmate fire crews are being called in to duty. Namely 2,3000 inmates in southern California are donning firefighting gear and lending a helping hand. The inmates are minimal security risk, physically fit and not guilty of violent behavior.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, "We are still facing some very serious fires. The weather has made it very difficult for the air assets to get up and fight the fires. ... If the weather cooperates, maybe we can turn the tide tomorrow."