Scorching heat and heightened risk of wildfires will hit Southern California through the Fourth of July weekend and early next week, with highs expected to exceed 115 degrees in desert areas on Friday and forecasters issuing heat warnings and advisories across the region.
Extreme temperatures and gusty winds will also combine with dry conditions to create a high risk of new wildfires across the state as the Thompson Fire continues to burn on more than 3,500 acres north of Sacramento.
“Tomorrow is going to be a very hot day,” Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, said Thursday morning. “It’s not a typical heat wave. It’s a dangerous heat wave, a high-end heat wave. Very dangerous.”
Heat warnings were issued Thursday for much of Los Angeles County's valleys and deserts, as well as the Santa Monica Mountains.
Construction workers at a sidewalk improvement site are hard at work as temperatures soared into triple digits in Palmdale over the holiday.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures expected for July 4 were around 106 degrees in the valleys, 103 in the lower mountains and 111 in the desert areas. On Friday, temperatures are expected to climb to 110 to 112 degrees in the county’s valleys and mountains, and between 112 and 118 in the desert. The only parts of the county not experiencing extreme heat conditions, Sirard said, are coastal communities.
Officials advised Southern California residents to take precautions against exposure to high temperatures, which can increase the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. The National Weather Service urged people to stay in air-conditioned spaces during the day and early evening, stay hydrated, check on neighbors and the elderly and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
“It’s too hot,” Sirard said. “Just use common sense. It’s a dangerous heat wave and that’s why we have heat warnings.”
Jacque McDonald, 39, drove with her husband and two young children from their home in Tarzana to Hermosa Beach on Thursday morning to beat the high heat in the San Fernando Valley.
“We came here because we knew it was going to be hot. I don’t like it,” McDonald said as a crowd of people in bathing suits and sunglasses strolled along the Strand and gray clouds helped keep the temperature down. “We have a pool at our resort, but we thought it would be crowded. So we planned to come here for the beach.”
Annie Seawright celebrates as people carry her after winning the Hermosa Beach Ironman competition on July 4.
(Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times)
Shortly before noon, dozens of visitors were walking along the dirt trail at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, a popular Los Angeles County park in Altadena with a stream and waterfall.
At the first water crossing on the trail, Mercedes Monje, 29, of Los Angeles, sat along the shore with her partner and 2-year-old son splashing in the water while the rest of her family sat nearby.
Monje said his family usually goes to the beach or river on the Fourth of July.
They had originally planned to go to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River on Thursday, but when they arrived around 8 a.m., authorities told them the place was full.
“We’re a little disappointed that we couldn’t be where we had actually planned to go, but we’re trying to make the most of it,” Monje said.
Meanwhile, the risk of wildfires is high in inland areas, as is the possibility that even small fires could quickly turn into larger conflagrations given the extreme conditions.
“We are expecting intense heat today, which increases the chances of wildfire spread,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuña. Fire departments across California urged people to resist the temptation to celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks that could spark new fires.
In Butte County, the Thompson Fire remained 7% contained as of Thursday morning, Acuna said, though it had held steady at 3,568 acres overnight. He said 1,962 personnel, 20 helicopters, 214 engines, 46 bulldozers, 43 tankers and 37 pieces of equipment were battling the blaze. At its peak, about 12,000 structures were evacuated, affecting about 28,000 people.
“Firefighters on the line will continue to stay hydrated and ready in case the fire acreage increases,” Acuña said, adding that while some have been downgraded, “a number of evacuations and fire warnings” remained in effect near the fire Thursday.
In Simi Valley, the Sharp Fire remained at 133 acres and containment was upgraded from 15% to 60% Thursday morning, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andy VanSciver.
Airn Barnes enjoys a cool fountain at Courson Park Pool as temperatures soared into triple digits in Palmdale.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
No structures were damaged by the fire, which at one point prompted an evacuation order for 60 nearby homes and an evacuation warning for another 340. The orders and warnings were lifted Wednesday night, VanSciver said.
“Containment lines have been holding and are being reinforced,” he said, adding that he did not expect wind conditions to cause the fire to spread. “We have enough resources on hand to control it.”
