Extreme heat and wildfire danger will continue to linger in Southern California from the July 4 weekend through early next week, with temperatures topping 115 degrees in desert areas on Friday and weather forecasters issuing heat warnings and advisories across the region.
Extreme temperatures and strong winds combined with dry conditions will create a high risk for new wildfires across the state, as the Thompson Fire continues to burn more than 3,500 acres north of Sacramento.
“It’s going to be very, very hot tomorrow,” Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, said Thursday morning. “This is not a normal heat wave. This is a dangerous heat wave, this is a high-level heat wave. Very dangerous.”
Heat warnings were issued Thursday for much of L.A. County’s valleys and deserts, as well as the Santa Monica Hills.
Construction workers are hard at work at a sidewalk improvement site, despite temperatures reaching triple digits in Palmdale during the holiday season.
(Brian Van Der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are forecast to be around 106 degrees in the valleys, 103 degrees in the lower mountains and 111 degrees in desert areas on July 4. On Friday, temperatures are expected to range from 110 to 112 degrees in the county’s valleys and mountains and 112 to 118 degrees in the desert. Surard said the only parts of the county that won’t experience extreme heat conditions are the coastal communities.
Officials advised residents of Southern California to take precautions to avoid exposure to high temperatures, which can increase the risk of heatstroke and heat exhaustion. The National Weather Service urged people to stay in air-conditioned spaces during the day and evening, stay hydrated, check on neighbors and the elderly, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
“It’s extremely hot,” Sarard said. “Just use common sense. This is a dangerous heat wave and that’s why we have issued a heat warning.”
Jacque McDonald, 39, drove with her husband and two young children from their home in Tarzana to Hermosa Beach on Thursday morning to escape the sweltering heat of the San Fernando Valley.
“We just came here because we knew it was going to be really hot. I’m not thinking about it,” MacDonald said, as crowds of people in swimsuits and sunglasses strolled along the Strand and gray clouds helped keep temperatures down. “We have a pool on campus, but we thought it would be full. So we planned to come here to the beach.”
Annie Seawright celebrates being picked on by people after winning the Hermosa Beach Ironman competition on July 4.
(Michael Blackshear/Los Angeles Times)
Just before noon, dozens of tourists walked along a dirt path at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, a popular L.A. County park in Altadena that also features a stream and a waterfall.
At the trail’s first water crossing, Mercedes Monje, 29, of Los Angeles, sat on the bank with her partner and 2-year-old son and splashed in the water while the rest of her family sat nearby.
Monje said her family usually goes to the beach or river on the 4th of July.
He had earlier planned to go to the east bank of the San Gabriel River on Thursday. But when he got there at 8 a.m., officials told him it was full of water.
“We’re a little disappointed that we didn’t get where we planned to go, but we’re trying to make the best of it,” Monje said.
Meanwhile, the risk of wildfires is high inland, and extreme conditions make it likely that even small fires could quickly turn into large blazes.
“We’re expecting a lot of heat today, which increases the potential for fires,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief David Acuna said. Fire departments across California have urged people to avoid the temptation to celebrate July 4 with fireworks, as this could start new fires.
Acuna said the Thompson Fire in Butte County was only 7% contained as of Thursday morning, though it held steady at 3,568 acres overnight. He said 1,962 personnel, 20 helicopters, 214 engines, 46 dozers, 43 water tenders and 37 crews were fighting the fire. At its peak, about 12,000 structures were evacuated, affecting about 28,000 people.
“Firefighters on the line remain prepared and hydrated in case the fire grows,” Acuna said, adding that while some have been reduced in number, “numerous fire evacuations and warnings” remained in place near the fire Thursday.
The Sharp Dyer in Simi Valley covered 133 acres, and the containment limit was raised from 15% to 60% Thursday morning, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andy VanSciver.
Aaron Barnes enjoys a cool fountain at the Courson Park pool as temperatures in Palmdale reach triple digits.
(Brian Van Der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
No structures were damaged by the fire, which at one point prompted 60 nearby homes to be ordered evacuated and evacuation warnings issued for an additional 340. VanSciver said the orders and warnings were lifted Wednesday evening.
“The containment lines remain strong and are being strengthened,” he said, adding that he did not think windy conditions would cause the fire to spread. “We have adequate resources to deal with it.”
