BIG SUR, Calif. -- Hundreds of firefighters have gone home as the size of the Basin Complex Fire shrinks and containment rises.

More than 500 additional fire personnel are expected to head home by this weekend, bringing the total number fighting the fire below 1,000.

The state Franchise Tax Board announced special tax relief Wednesday for residents affected by the recent wildfires.

Taxpayers affected by the fires can claim a disaster loss on their personal income tax returns in either the current tax year or the year prior, state officials said.

Tax officials advised residents to write "California Wildfires 2008" in red ink at the top of any tax returns sent that include disaster loss claims.

Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara counties have all been declared federal emergency disaster areas.

Steep terrain, roadless forest land and smokey skies are all some of the challenges fire crews are facing as they push to get the last of California's wildfires under control.

Officials said thick smoke from the fire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Junction City has grounded firefighting helicopters and air tankers.

A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for the outlying neighborhoods of the Trinity County town of about 800 residents.

The fire has burned 98 square miles and is about 61 percent contained.

More than 2,000 blazes have blackened a little more than 1,500 square miles of land across California over the past month.

As of today, 33 blazes are still active.

The Basin Complex Fire has scorched nearly 140,000 acres and was only 72 percent contained Wednesday morning.