SAN DIEGO – A merciful easing of the winds fueling Southern California’s sprawling wildfires finally gave firefighters a chance to fight back against some blazes yesterday, and weary residents could take solace in an overriding sign of hope: Just one person has died from the flames.

That contrasts to 22 dead from a fire of similar magnitude four years ago, and while the final toll has yet to be tallied from this week’s fires, officials were crediting an automated, reverse 911 calling system that prompted the orderly evacuation of more than half a million people.

That was 10 times the number evacuated four years ago.

“They are more determined that people leave,” said Steve Levstik, who got his call 15 minutes before flames swept through his Rancho Bernardo neighborhood.

“It was very intense. On the call, it was like, ‘This area, go! This area go!’ In 2003 there was less guidance. It was like, ‘Just pay attention to the news and if it looks bad, leave.'”

Yesterday, winds dropped to 21 to 36 mph, considerably less than the fierce gusts of up to 100 mph that whipped fire zones earlier in the week.

The improving weather allowed for a greater aerial assault on the flames and helped firefighters beat back the most destructive blazes. Helicopters and air tankers dropped 30 to 35 loads of water on two fires that have burned hundreds of homes in the San Bernardino Mountains.

“They’re taking it down considerably,” said Dennis Bouslaugh of the U.S. Forest Service.