An excessive heat warning was issued for inland and desert communities in Southern California on Saturday, with triple-digit temperatures forecast through next week, posing an elevated fire risk in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures between 100 and 110 degrees are expected in parts of Los Angeles County, including Palmdale and Lancaster, as well as smaller towns in the San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley. The warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Heat warnings were also issued for mountainous areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and for desert communities in the Inland Empire, such as Victorville and Apple Valley.
In the Central Valley, high winds and dry conditions have raised fears of wildfires. Pacific Gas and Electric said thousands of customers, mostly in the Fresno area but also in Sacramento and Bakersfield, could lose power Saturday as part of a power shutoff plan to prevent wildfires.
In Los Angeles County, the Angeles National Forest has been a particular area of concern for fires.
A wildfire broke out in the Fork area of the forest Friday afternoon and has since grown to 330 acres. More than 200 personnel from federal, state and county agencies were on the scene Saturday battling the blaze with “a lot of air tankers and helicopters,” Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Dana Dierkes said.
The Fork wildfire was “0%” contained as of Saturday morning, he said. “The vegetation is very dry, it’s been very hot,” Dierkes said, adding that officials hoped to extinguish the blaze as quickly as possible.
Dierkes said two people were treated for possible smoke inhalation and residents were evacuated from the East Fork of the San Gabriel River and the parking area at the East Fork trailhead. Residents have not been evacuated at this time.
The East Fork area is a popular destination for hiking and camping, and many have been heading there to cool off from the hot Los Angeles weather, but those looking to access the river via the East Fork will find that the road has been closed so that crews and equipment can have a clear path to fight the fire.
Farther east, closer to where the Angeles National Forest meets the San Bernardino National Forest, about 300 firefighters are still battling the Vista wildfire, which has burned nearly 3,000 acres on the south side of Lytle Creek. As of Saturday morning, the blaze was reported to be 83% contained, according to the interagency information website InciWeb.
Between July 1 and July 11, there were 38 wildfires burning in and around the Angeles National Forest, Dierkes said.
A fire broke out Friday afternoon in Palmdale, north of East Avenue Q and 35th Street East. The so-called Deer Fire, which affected some 600 acres, has been fully contained, according to California authorities.
