President Bush will take an aerial tour of fire-plagued areas in Northern California Thursday afternoon with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, weeks before wildfire season really begins.

According to the governor's press conference, Schwarzenegger will impress upon Bush the need for swift federal help during wildfire season, given dry conditions across the state.

It was not clear whether the president would declare federal disaster areas in the counties most affected by fires.

The governor's office said Bush previously helped the state with an emergency declaration for fire-stricken areas on July 9 that helped free resources to fight the blazes.

The aerial tour will cover areas in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Redding that were scorched by recent wildfires.

Lightning touched off several fires in that area nearly a month ago, burning thousands of acres, though the fires are largely, but not entirely, contained now.

Other wildfires have burned thousands of acres in Butte and Placer counties and near the town of Big Sur along California's central coast.

The governor's office also expected Bush and Schwarzenegger to have a public briefing on the tour Thursday afternoon.

From there, Bush will travel to Napa for a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee. No public events are listed for the visit there.

Bush will leave from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield Thursday night.

________________________________________