SAN DIEGO -- Firefighters said they're optimistic they can hold their gains and make more progress against Southern California's wildfires Sunday, despite a forecast of warmer, drier weather.

The blistering Santa Ana winds that whipped fires over more than a half-million acres earlier in the week were replaced by light breezes and even some rain Saturday. More than a dozen blazes have been surrounded and nine others were 40 to 97 percent contained.

The fires have torched nearly 1,800 homes and are still threatening some communities. About 4,400 people remain in 28 shelters across the region.

Blazes continued to burn in the Lake Arrowhead resort region of the San Bernardino Mountains and the wilderness areas above some isolated canyon communities in Orange County. One blaze about 60 miles northeast of San Diego stopped its advance toward the mountain town of Julian.

Meantime, authorities have confirmed the flames killed four suspected illegal immigrants whose charred bodies were found near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday. That raises the number of direct fire deaths to seven.

Santiago Fire

The Santiago fire, which has decimated 16 homes and 27,630 acres, is 40 percent contained, officials said Sunday, according to KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.

Evacuations remained fully implemented as the fire was still endangering 750 homes, according to fire officials. The fire is about a mile away from Riverside County, but will not likely reach there, officials said. Since Thursday, the fire has moved little and damaged no homes.

Authorities said they have not projected a time for full containment, but remained optimistic that they were in control of the blaze. Much of the focus has been toward protecting the area's homes and making sure the fire did not spread into Riverside.

Fire officials said they received a huge boost from the weekend's weather conditions, as rain and light winds aided them in battling the blaze.

"We know we are at the mercy of the Santa Ana winds, and [that] weather changes," Fire Incident Management Team spokesperson Donna Hummel said. "We don't see anything in the next couple of days, so were optimistic we can tighten everything up, but right now, probably the worst is over."

Schwarzenegger Threatens Arsonists, Looters

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Saturday the state will go after scam artists, price-gougers, insurance rip-offs, shady contractors and anyone else who takes advantage of those burned out of their homes.

And he said if he were one of the arsonists who'd started fires, he wouldn't be able to sleep knowing the law was on the trail. He said those who've torched the state will pay for what they've done.

Soot and dust from this week's wildfires made the air quality bad in Southern California Saturday. Satellite pictures show thick smoke hanging over the region, as a number of major fires continue to burn. Health officials are advising residents to avoid exerting themselves.

Convicts Help Battle Blazes

They may have stolen cars, used drugs or forged checks, but when California is burning, they fight fires.

Of the more than 15,000 firefighters defending homes and businesses in Southern California from wildfires this week, about a quarter of them have been prison inmates. Officials said 4,400 inmates are trained to battle fires in the state and more than 3,000 were on the front lines Friday.

A spokesman for the corrections department said it's close to the most the state has ever used.

The inmates go through a four-week training program. They must be physically fit, have no history of violent crime and have between four months to three years remaining on their sentences.

They're paid $1 an hour.

They program started in the 1940s and also makes inmates available for other natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding.

Bush Vows Recovery

President George W. Bush reiterated his pledge Saturday to help Southern Californians recover from the devastating wildfires.

In his weekly radio address, Bush said the government will help fire victims "get through the crisis" and rebuild their lives.

He visited California Thursday to see the damage first hand. With many of the unpredictable fires still threatening the region, Bush said state and local authorities were "well prepared for the crisis."

He said a main purpose of his trip was to inspire weary firefighters and others pitching in to help. He described firefighting teams battling blazes around the clock in triple-digit heat and thanked them for their courage.

Bush also touted his administration's response, noting the contribution of federal firefighters and aircraft and swift emergency declarations to help speed federal aid.

Evacuees Return To Hardships

Those Southern California residents returning home are finding that lingering dust and soot-laden air from the week of wildfires are making it hard for many to take a sigh of relief.

Air quality reports for the central San Bernadino Mountains and parts of the San Bernadino Valley were poor Saturday morning. The reports from areas of Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties weren't much better.

Satellite pictures continued to show a thick haze of smoke hanging over the entire region, affecting schools, events and the health of residents all over Southern California.

Residents staying in areas with bad air were advised to avoid exerting themselves. Children and those with heart and respiratory conditions were urged to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed and the air conditioner on.