The first wildfire death of the 2024 season was reported Friday as California continues to deal with scorching temperatures that are expected to continue through the weekend.
Human remains were found in a structure that burned Monday in the Mina Fire near Covelo, Mendocino County officials confirmed. The coroner's office is still identifying the body, but it is believed to be a 66-year-old woman who was reported missing by her family.
The Mina Fire started Monday and has burned nearly 100 acres but is now 70% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The recent heat wave has taken a heavy toll on humans across the state.
In the Bay Area, the Santa Clara County medical examiner was investigating 19 possible heat-related deaths as of Friday, including four homeless people, one in transitional housing and 10 adults 65 or older.
In July alone, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Emergency Department treated 22 people who complained of heat illness, compared with 21 cases in all of June and 11 cases in May, according to an agency spokesperson.
So far, the 2024 wildfire season has sparked more than 3,600 fires that have burned more than 228,000 acres and damaged 148 structures, Cal Fire officials said. Several fires were still burning Friday.
The Bluff Fire broke out suddenly Friday around noon near Banning in Riverside County, burning 50 acres and prompting an evacuation warning. The fire was 20% contained as of Friday afternoon.
The fire was first reported near Bluff Street and Mias Canyon Road, near the Banning Sportsman's Club, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Cal Fire has issued an evacuation warning for north of Sunnyslope Cemetery, the entire Banning Bench area, west of Hathaway Canyon Road and east of Bluff Street, south of the forest line.
According to Cal Fire, the Vista Fire had burned 2,810 acres and was 13% contained as of Friday morning. The fire started July 7 around 10 a.m. near Lytle Creek; evacuation orders have been issued for the Mt. Baldy Ski Resort and the Pacific Crest Trail from Lytle Creek to Mt. Baldy.
The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District has warned of poor air quality in the Victor Valley area due to smoke from the Vista Fire. The warning is in effect through Sunday.
The Pauba Fire was first reported Friday around 1:31 p.m. near State Route 79 and Pauba Road in Riverside County, Cal Fire said. The fire had burned 102 acres as of Friday afternoon.
In Santa Barbara County, the Lake Fire was 16% contained and had burned 36,707 acres as of Friday morning, according to Cal Fire.
According to authorities, three recreational residences were destroyed and an outbuilding and a camping area were damaged.
The heat wave that has hit California for several days has only worsened the fire conditions.
Excessive heat warnings are in effect through Saturday, with temperatures expected to reach 90 to 100 degrees near the Lake Fire area, Cal Fire officials said. Firefighters are trying to create a buffer zone around parts of the fire and strengthen control lines.
For the Los Angeles area, thunderstorms over the weekend could increase the risk of new wildfires.
Thunderstorms are expected to move in from the Southeast Saturday afternoon and move over the mountains and deserts of Los Angeles County, the mountains of Ventura County and inland portions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County, according to Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. There is a 10 percent chance of showers over the coasts and valleys of Los Angeles County.
Precipitation will be very localized and difficult to predict, depending on location. Elevated fire conditions continue to spread throughout Southern California due to high temperatures. Sirard warned residents to avoid activities, such as campfires, that could ignite flying embers.
“Any lightning strike tomorrow could spark new fires, so that’s obviously a concern,” he added.
Temperatures are expected to be between 80 and 90 degrees in the valleys of Los Angeles County, between 90 and 103 degrees in the lower elevation mountains and between 100 and 112 degrees in the Antelope Valley.
On Friday, temperatures reached 109 degrees in Lancaster, breaking its previous daily record of 108 degrees in 2021. July 2-11 was the hottest 10-day period on record in Palmdale and Lancaster, which began recording temperatures in the early 20th century.
Temperatures are forecast to drop Sunday and continue to fall next week, Sirard said.
Due to high temperatures in the Palm Springs area, California State Parks has closed the Skyline Trail at Mount San Jacinto State Park. Hikers have been rescued during recent heat waves due to dehydration and heat exhaustion.
