Southern California heat wave prompts fire, health warnings

(From the latimes.com) The heat wave that gripped Southern California on Wednesday is expected to last through the weekend, increasing the threat of wildfires and prompting officials to issue heat advisories for inland areas. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch from Thursday morning through Friday evening for valley areas in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and Riverside counties. Temperatures there were expected to exceed 100 degrees.

The soaring temperatures, expected to range from five to 10 degrees above normal, are the result of a high-pressure ridge building over the Southwest, the weather service said.

On Tuesday, brush fires briefly threatened homes in Walnut and Camarillo and scorched at least 3,000 acres at Camp Pendleton. The onset of warmer weather will continue to dry up grasses and brush on parched Southern California hillsides, fire officials said Wednesday.

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