U.S. President George W. Bush left Washington D.C. Thursday morning for southern California where wildfires have destroyed more than 1,200 homes and forced the evacuation of a million people.
Bush is scheduled to take a helicopter tour of the area and visit a burned-out neighborhood near San Diego, news reports said.
He will have lunch with emergency responders before returning to Washington D.C. later in the day.
Before leaving, Bush said he would try to assure the people of California that the federal government will "be deploying resources, assets and manpower necessary to help fight these fires."
"As well, I will assure them that because of the declaration I signed yesterday, there will be help for the people of California," Bush added.
The president has declared the fires a "major disaster," making federal money available to homeowners in seven Californian counties.
In southern California, weather conditions improved on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing firefighters to make some progress toward containing the 14 major wildfires.
Hot, dry winds that fueled the fires calmed down on Wednesday, allowing fire crews to go on the offensive against the blazes for the first time.
Helicopters and air tankers spent the day dropping water and flame retardant on the worst areas.
Since last Sunday, the wildfires have consumed more than 1,500 square kilometers of land and destroyed more than 1,200 homes.
Officials say the damage will likely top 1 billion U.S. dollars, much of it in hard-hit San Diego.
One people was killed in the fires while five others died during the evacuation that involved some 1 million people. More than 40 people have been injured, half of them firefighters.
Source: Xinhua
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