Firefighters said the worst is over for Southern California evacuees.

Many have returned home to put their lives back in order following the devastating southland fires.

Slideshow Kern County Fire Department At Southland Fires

More than 1,600 homes in Southern California were wiped out by the wildfires and at least eight fires continue to burn.

With evacuation centers now closed, anxious homeowners returned to fire ravaged areas to start the rebuilding.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues his tour of wildfire-ravaged San Diego County.

He visited victim assistance centers and warned those trying to commit fraud against homeowners.

"I made it very clear that if anyone uses this time when people are the most vulnerable to commit fraud, they will regret it for the rest of their life. We will find those people. We will do everything that we can. The state will do everything it can to prosecute those people and put them away.”

Schwarzenegger also had a message for the arsonist suspected of starting the Santiago Canyon fire in Orange County. He said, “Turn yourself in.”

The fires were widespread across the Southland. The Canyon fire in Malibu was the first of 23 blazes to break out. It damaged or destroyed 22 structures and burned more than 4,500 acres.

In North Los Angeles County, several fires broke out. The Ranch fire in Castaic is not yet fully contained and has burned 58,000 acres, destroying one home and nine outbuildings. At Lake Arrowhead, 14,000 acres were burned, destroying 375 homes. The Buckweed fire torched 63 structures and 38,000 acres. The Meadow Ridge fire burned just 40 acres thanks to much needed aerial assets.

Air resources were lacking in San Diego County when major blazes broke out, fueled by extremely high Santa Ana winds. The Horno and Ammo fires on the grounds of Camp Pendleton burned 21,000 acres and at one point crossed Interstate 5.

The Rice fire burned more than 9,400 acres in Fallbrook, destroying 206 homes.

The Poomacha fire continues to cause problems, having burned 50,000 acres and 136 homes. It is just 50 percent contained.

The Harris fire near the U.S. and Mexico border is 70 percent contained after burning 90,000 acres and 206 homes.

The Witch fire burned nearly 200,000 acres, making it one of the largest fires in state history. The fire also destroyed 1,040 homes, 414 outbuildings, 239 vehicles and forced the evacuation of thousands.

In San Diego County alone, as many as 500,000 people were evacuated.

Statewide, more than half a million acres burned and more than 2,000 homes were lost.

Seven people died in the fires and seven more died during the evacuation.

At least 71 firefighters and 21 civilians were injured.

According to the Cal Fire Web site the 23 fires have a cost at least $75.4 million to fight.

After what is considered one of the worst tragedies in California history, residents continue to sort through the damage, and crews fight to put out hot spots.