Southern California braces for dangerous triple-digit heat wave, high fire risk

Southern California is experiencing extreme heat this week, with temperatures expected to reach triple digits, increasing the risk of wildfires across the region.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for parts of the area, as conditions are ideal for wildfires. In response, local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have taken measures to prepare for potential fires.

“We are going to see an abrupt switch in conditions. People need to be prepared,” said a representative from the National Weather Service.

The KTLA weather team reports that areas such as Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Clarita and Woodland Hills could see temperatures exceed 100 degrees, with the San Fernando Valley expected to reach 110 degrees.

Bass stated that Los Angeles is better prepared now than during previous wildfires.

“LAFD will be pre-deploying crews, fire engines, water tankers and other resources across the city, including Crew 4, a new LAFD team made up of 26 full-time wildfire hand crew technicians,” Bass said at a news conference.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is actively conducting brush clearance in hillside communities and has added a specialized team trained in vegetation clearance to its fully staffed personnel.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has also deployed additional resources to Southern California, including fire engines, bulldozers, a helicopter and incident management teams, to assist with the dangerous fire weather conditions.

The city of Glendale is urging residents to conserve energy to prevent strain on the electrical grid, which could lead to service interruptions.

L.A. County Cooling Centers: https://ready.lacounty.gov/heat/

Glendale Cooling Centers: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/community-services-parks/beat-the-heat

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTLA. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTLA staff before being published.