Jul 7, 2018 - Energy & Climate

Fires rage in California amid record heat, thousands without power

Haley Britzky

Record-shattering heat in California is sparking fires across the southern part of the state, the L.A. Times reports, causing hundreds to evacuate.

The latest: Per the Times, the holiday fire has destroyed 10-20 homes and has put upwards of 100 others at risk along the Santa Barbara County coast. The fire was still being fought on Saturday.

Multiple cities broke heat records on Friday, the Times reports. Los Angeles hit 108 degrees, and Ramona, in San Diego County, and Woodland Hills reached 115 degrees.

Meteorologist Eric Holthaus tweeted on Friday that hundreds of homes had no power — or air conditioning to fight the heat: "It's 111 degrees. All-time record heat is straining the electrical grid."

At least one person has been killed, the Associated Press reported.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in San Diego County, per the AP.

Flashback: Wildfires tore through California last year, destroying thousands of homes and structures and forcing thousands to evacuate.

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Fires rage in California amid record heat, thousands without power

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