SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Relentless wildfires roared through Southern California for a third day Tuesday, sending more than half a million residents fleeing with family members, pets and whatever prize possessions they could fit in their vehicles. The blazes have charred 400,000 acres and reduced 1,300 homes -- 1,000 in San Diego County -- to ash. The fires have killed one person and injured more than 50. Earlier Tuesday, officials erroneously reported that a second person had died. Earlier Tuesday, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, said the number of evacuees "could very well approach 500,000 by the end of the day."
@highlight
3,000 Marines evacuated at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego
@highlight
Defense Department firefighting teams fighting the blazes, official says
@highlight
President Bush is set to visit Southern California on Thursday
@highlight
More than a half-million people evacuated in San Diego County alone
California
Southern California
Southern California
And in an effort to make room for more civilians who have had to evacuate their homes, sailors stationed in @placeholder are abandoning their barracks.