SAN DIEGO -- Firefighters are making their first major progress against Southern California's firestorm Thursday. But that news comes as authorities make some grim discoveries.

The San Diego County sheriff said crews have found two burned bodies in a gutted home near Poway, north of San Diego. The discovery brings to eight the total number of deaths believed to be connected to the fires.

The fires also have directly claimed the life of 52-year-old Thomas Varshock, of Tecate. The San Diego medical examiner's office listed five other deaths as connected to the blazes because all who died were evacuees.

Sheriff Bill Kolender said medical examiners were trying to establish identities of the other victims.

Three major fires in Los Angeles County were fully contained as of Wednesday night and several smaller fires north of San Diego are largely contained.

But six large fires in San Diego County are still almost unchecked and they threaten more than 8,500 houses.

Property damage just in San Diego County totals over $1 billion. At least 1,500 homes across southern California have been reduced to smoldering ruins.

The break in the harsh Santa Ana winds has allowed a massive aerial assault on the fires. And sea breezes are cooling what had been record-high temperatures in recent days.

While that's all helping, flames continue to threaten thousands of homes. Firefighters cut fire lines around four major blazes in San Diego County, but none is more than 40 percent contained. And as the fires move, authorities are being forced to issue fresh evacuation orders.

Meanwhile, President George W. Bush touring Southern California by helicopter to get a close-up view of the devastation. He'll also have lunch with emergency responders before returning to Washington later in the day.

Speaking at the White House shortly before he left, Bush expressed sympathy for those who lost their homes and promised federal assistance.

"I look forward to seeing Gov. (Arnold) Schwarzenegger and thank him for all the good work," Bush said. "I will assure the people of California that the federal government will deploy the resources and manpower necessary to man these fires."

C-130 airplanes equipped with firefighting systems have dropped almost 84,000 gallons of fire retardant on the Poomacha fire, northeast of San Diego, since California officials activated them Wednesday, National Guard Bureau officials said.

There are 214 active duty personnel, 72 Defense Department civilians and 2,492 National Guardsmen engaged in either ground or airborne firefighting or security and relief operations, the Pentagon said. In addition, the Defense Department is providing 18 fire engines, and about 17,000 California National Guardsmen are available for duty.

Eighteen military helicopters from the California Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force are participating in the firefight, and 14 fixed-wing aircraft, including the C-130s, also are involved.

Air Force U-2 surveillance planes also flew some imagery missions in support of the firefighting effort.

Some Shelters Emptying

Some evacuation shelters began emptying Thursday as residents were allowed to return to neighborhoods. Still, none of the four major fires burning in San Diego County is more than 40 percent contained and more than 8,500 homes are still threatened. And authorities evacuated Jamul, a community of about 6,000 in a hilly region about east of San Diego.

After housing as many as 10,000 people at the height of the maelstrom, San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium had about 2,500 left Thursday morning. Many, though, have returned to find nothing more than ruins. Officials said almost 1,500 homes have been destroyed in San Diego County alone.

Cheryl Monticello returned to her neighborhood in Rancho Bernardo, despite being warned by city officials that her house was lost. Only the white brick chimney and her daughter's backyard slide had survived, but Monicello said, "you have to see it to know for sure."

Tom Blinn returned to his southern Orange County home this week and found a family of six had moved in.

A Marine sergeant with three tours of duty in Iraq under his belt, his wife and four young children were wildfire refugees from a Camp Pendleton blaze that forced them to flee base housing.

"We have a very generous daughter who invited them in," the 67-year-old said.

The family was referred to the Blinns through his 42-year-old daughter's church.

Blinn was aboard a commuter bus bound for Anaheim before dawn when he told The Associated Press by telephone about a pleasant evening of pasta, pizza and World Series baseball.

Originally from Connecticut and a Boston fan, Blinn said, "They were kind enough to be fans of the Red Sox."

He described the evening as "loose" and says, "We cooked spaghetti and made a taco run."

The Camp Pendleton evacuation order was eventually lifted and Blinn suspects his new friends will be gone by the time he returns from work today.

Three fires burning on Camp Pendleton have consumed 6,200 acres, the Pentagon said and officials have relocated 6,100 personnel and family members to less-threatened places on the base, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Three Navy bases -- Naval Base San Diego, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and Naval Air Station El Centro -- are housing 2,670 Defense Department evacuees, according to a U.S. Northern Command release.

Arson Probe Launched

Federal agents and local authorities are investigating the possibility that some of the wildfires devastating Southern California may have been deliberately set.

At least two of the fires -- in Orange and Riverside counties -- have been linked to arson.

The FBI joined the search for evidence in brush-covered Orange County hills. Experts said the fire apparently had three ignition points. A $70,000 reward has been posted.

In San Bernardino County, a man suspected of starting a small fire was arrested and another man was shot to death by police after he fled officers who approached to see if he might be trying to set a fire.

Authorities said patrols have been increased in hopes of preventing copycat fires and looting.

The San Diego County Sheriff also reported two people were arrested and accused of looting.