SAN DIEGO -- Thousands of evacuees from areas hard hit by this week's Southern California wildfires were returning Friday to neighborhoods stripped bare, but other communities remained emptied because of blazes that remained threatening and unpredictable.
Southeast of San Diego, a fire that already has destroyed more than 1,000 homes was churning its way toward Julian. The town of 3,000, nestled in the rolling hills of a popular apple-growing region, was under mandatory evacuation.
East of San Diego, firefighters were trying to keep flames from Lake Morena, which is surrounded by hundreds of homes.
"Until you get a control line around each and every individual fire, there's a potential of them blowing out anywhere," said Fred Daskoski, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Fires in seven Southern California counties have raced across 494,355 acres -- about 772 square miles -- in less than a week. They were fanned earlier by Santa Ana winds that produced gusts topping 100 mph.
Of the 1,800 homes lost so far, 80 percent were in San Diego County, where several fires remained far from being fully contained . The property damage there alone surpassed $1 billion.
Shelters were clearing out Friday; the last of more than 10,000 displaced residents who sought refuge at Qualcomm Stadium were to have left by day's end.
The NFL said it had decided against relocating Sunday's game between the San Diego Chargers and the Houston Texans.
Mayor Jerry Sanders said the league informed him it intended to play the game as scheduled. The city would be able to provide enough public safety personnel to handle the game without impeding wildfire recovery efforts, Sanders said in a news release.
Officials have opened assistance centers where displaced residents can get help with insurance, rebuilding and mental health counseling.
"The challenge now is starting to rebuild and getting them the resources they need to do that," San Diego County spokeswoman Lesley Kirk said Friday. "The county and city of San Diego are very committed to helping these people."
The state has come under criticism for failing to deploy sufficient aerial support in the wildfires' crucial first hours. An Associated Press investigation revealed that nearly two dozen water-dropping helicopters and two cargo planes were grounded by government rules and bureaucracy as flames spread.
The Navy, Marine and California National Guard helicopters were grounded for a day partly because state rules require all firefighting choppers to be accompanied by state forestry "fire spotters" who coordinate water or retardant drops. By the time those spotters arrived, the high winds made flying too dangerous.
Additionally, the National Guard's C-130 cargo planes were not part of the firefighting arsenal because long-needed retrofits have yet to be completed. The tanks they need to carry thousands of gallons of fire retardant were promised four years ago.
"When you look at what's happened, it's disgusting, inexcusable foot-dragging that's put tens of thousands of people in danger," Republican U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said.
The wildfires are directly blamed for killing three people, a 52-year-old man in Tecate along the Mexican border and a couple in Escondido. Their bodies were discovered in the charred remains of their hillside home. Seven people died of other causes connected to the evacuations.
Border Patrol agents also found four charred bodies in what was believed to be a migrant camp east of San Diego, near the Mexican border. Medical examiners were trying to determine their identities and whether they had died in a fire that destroyed almost 100 homes.
In Orange County, local authorities, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were investigating a fire that destroyed 14 homes. It was believed to be started by an arsonist.
Five people have been arrested for arson since wildfires broke out across Southern California this week, but none has been linked to any of the major blazes.
Among the structures threatened Friday was the Palomar Observatory in northern San Diego County. Crews were clearing brush and lighting back burns around the landmark building, Daskoski said.
The observatory, home to the world's largest telescope when it was dedicated in 1948, did not appear to be in immediate danger, said observatory spokesman Scott Kardel, who had been evacuated but was in contact with staff who remained.
California wildfire overall statistics
-- Acreage: 494,355 (about 772 square miles). - -- Homes Destroyed: At least 1,800, according to county authorities.
-- Deaths: Three confirmed fire deaths, seven fire-related deaths. Authorities investigating whether four charred bodies found east of San Diego on Thursday were victims of the Harris Fire.
-- Injuries: 60 to firefighters, and about 30 injuries to civilians.
-- People taking shelter in 41 evacuation centers as of 8 a.m. Friday: 4,512, according to the state Office of Emergency Services.
Active wildfires burning in Southern California, by county:
San Diego County:
-- Witch Fire: About 309 square miles in northern San Diego County from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. 30 percent contained. 1,061 homes, 30 commercial properties, 175 outbuildings and 230 autos destroyed. About 1,100 homes and businesses threatened. Firefighting cost: $7.5 million. Two burned bodies found in a charred home. Two civilians and 26 firefighters injured.
-- Poomacha Fire: About 61 square miles on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and in northeastern San Diego County. 35 percent contained. 60 homes and 19 outbuildings destroyed, 2,000 homes threatened and 12 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $1.7 million.
-- Horno/Ammo Fire: About 31 square miles on the Camp Pendleton Marine base. 80 percent contained.
-- Harris Fire: Abiout 131 square miles burned 70 miles southeast of San Diego and north of the border town of Tecate. 20 percent contained. 97 homes, 17 outbuildings, 120 autos and two commercial buildings destroyed. One civilian killed, 21 injured civilians and seven injured firefighters. Firefighting cost: $5.8 million.
-- Rice Fire: About 14 square miles in Fallbrook in northern San Diego County. 40 percent contained. 206 homes, 40 outbuildings, 91 autos and two commercial properties destroyed. Three reported injuries. Firefighting cost: $2,368,841.
Ventura County:
-- Ranch Fire: About 91 square miles in the Castaic area near Piru. 87 percent contained. One home, eight outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $8.2 million.
Orange County:
-- Santiago Fire: About 41 square miles east of Irvine. 30 percent contained. 14 homes destroyed, and eight other structures damaged; four minor injuries to firefighters. Firefighting cost: $4 million.
San Bernardino County:
-- Slide Fire: About 21 square miles in Green Valley Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 15 percent contained. At least 200 homes destroyed along with three outbuildings and 10,000 threatened. One firefighter suffered minor injuries. Firefighting cost: $3 million.
-- Grass Valley Fire: About 2 square miles in Grass Valley area in the San Bernardino Mountains. 70 percent contained. At least 160 homes destroyed and 6,000 threatened. Firefighting cost: $2.5 million.
Contained Fires
Los Angeles:
-- Buckweed: Burned about 60 square miles in northeastern Los Angeles County. Contained Wednesday evening. 21 homes, 22 outbuildings, two bridges and 40 vehicles destroyed. Three civilians and two firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.8 million.
-- Canyon: Burned about 7 square miles in Malibu. Contained Wednesday. Six homes, two businesses and a church destroyed. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. Firefighting cost: $5.2 million.
-- Magic: About 4 square miles in northern Los Angeles County.
-- Meadowridge: About 40 acres burned with no damage to property.
Riverside:
-- Rosa: Burned 411 acres and two outbuildings near Temecula.
-- Roca: Burned 270 acres. Contained Wednesday. One home destroyed and one person injured.
San Diego:
-- Cajon: 250 acres.
-- McCoy: 300 acres.
-- Coronado Hills: 300 acres.
-- Wilcox: 200 acres.
Ventura:
-- Nightsky: 35 acres.
Santa Barbara County:
-- Sedgewick Fire: 710 acres near Los Olivos.