Bush planned to visit the fire-stricken area on Thursday.
Running Springs, a town of about 5,000 people nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, was surrounded by fire by Tuesday afternoon and thousands of homes appeared in danger, but crews were able to fight back the flames and save most of them.
Firefighters in the Mexican border city of Tecate tried to control fires that sent up black smoke and covered houses and cars with gray ash. Fires also burned on the outskirts of the Mexican city of Tijuana, 20 miles (32 km) from San Diego.
California power authorities issued a transmission emergency because downed power lines had left San Diego with only 60 percent of its usual supply of electricity.
The hot Santa Ana winds, which have fanned the flames as they blow in to Southern California from the desert, continued to gust up to 65 mph (105 kph) and high wind warnings remained in effect for most of the region until Wednesday afternoon.
Officials were hoping that easing winds and an accompanying rise in humidity would help them gain the upper hand against the wildfires.
San Diego officials said people were evacuating quickly. In the region's last major fire in 2003, 15 people died and 5,000 buildings were destroyed.
Erica Schmidt said friends in San Diego county ignored evacuation orders to to safeguard their own homes.
"It bothers me to know my friends are still up there because they can't get out. All the roads are closed," Schmidt said.
Some 8,000 people, including senior citizens from nursing homes, went to the Qualcomm stadium, where the San Diego Chargers football team plays, or to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, famed for its horse racing track. Thousands of horses and family pets were also accommodated.
People taking shelter at Qualcomm called it well organized and clean, in contrast to the chaos at New Orleans' Superdome, which was used as a refuge after Katrina.
On Tuesday afternoon, some San Diego evacuees were allowed to return to their communities.
