CA Fires Latest: 4 Dead, Dozens Of Fires Burn Across The State

CALIFORNIA — As California's record-setting 10-day heat wave peaks, a series of deadly wildfires are raging across the state.

Four people died in brush fires in Northern and Southern California over the Labor Day weekend, and several firefighters were hospitalized with heat exhaustion while fighting flames in 100-plus-degree heat. Some 4,400 firefighters battled 14 large fires around the state, with 45 new blazes on Sunday alone, said Anale Burlew, a deputy chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Crews battled another 29 new brush fires across the state in a 24-hour period as of Tuesday afternoon.

Parts of the Bay Area were expected to see temperatures as high as 120 degrees Tuesday as humidity plummets, creating tinderbox conditions.

Ironically, unsettled weather also brought the chance of thunderstorms over Southern California and into the Sierra Nevada, with a few isolated areas of rain, but nothing widespread. The storms also could produce lightning, forecasters said, which can spark wildfires.

The record heat is straining the state's power grid, creating the risk of blackouts on top of the fire danger. California is facing its highest chance of blackouts this year as a brutal heat wave continues to blanket the state with triple-digit temperatures. State energy officials said the electrical load Tuesday afternoon could top 51,000 megawatts, the highest demand the state has ever seen.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to procure resources for the Mill Fire, which destroyed more than 100 homes and killed two people in the community of Weed.

In Southern California, two people were killed and one injured by the Fairview Fire, which started Monday near the city of Hemet, the Riverside County Fire Department said. Roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, the fire had quickly spread to at least 4,000 acres, prompting evacuations, and was only 5% contained. Multiple residential structures burned.

Those killed were not immediately identified. Authorities said both were found in the same area but it was not known if they were from the same household. They were apparently trying to flee when they were overcome.

An interactive map created and updated by the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation shows where all active fires are burning. The map shows recently contained fires and regions that have a red flag warning in place.

While the map does not show evacuation routes, the foundation also maintains a spreadsheet with updated evacuation maps in areas that apply.

Mill Fire

South of the Oregon state line, the Mill Fire was 55% contained Tuesday morning after killing two people, injuring others and destroying at least 88 homes and other buildings since it erupted last week, CalFire said. The bodies of the two women, 66 and 73, were found in the city of Weed on Friday, the Siskyou County Sheriff's Office announced Monday. Details weren't immediately released.

Mountain Fire

A few miles away, the Mountain Fire grew to nearly 18 square miles (29 square kilometers) square miles and only 20% contained, with winds threatening to renew its eastward spread in steep terrain, fire officials said.

Fairview Fire

A deadly wildfire that prompted evacuations south of Hemet grew to 4,000 acres Tuesday, reaching the boundaries of the San Bernardino National Forest, with no change in containment, leading officials to broaden evacuation orders for public safety.

The Fairview Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road, and had burned 4,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon, with containment holding at 5%, according to officials at the scene. There was a potential for expansion to 7,000 acres, depending on winds and other conditions, officials said.

Evacuations were ordered for an area south of Stetson Avenue, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Bautista Canyon and east of State Street. Sheriff's deputies were making house calls to enforce the evacuation order, according to county fire Capt. Richard Cordova.

An evacuation warning issued Monday for Bautista Canyon Road, south of Stetson and north of the Two Streams Fork trailhead, was converted to a mandatory evacuation Tuesday due to the proximity of flames to homes in the area.

Schools were closed in the Hemet Unified School District.

Officials said that the fire resulted in two civilian fatalities and one civilian burn injury. Details on the two deaths were sparse, with fire officials saying only that the people were attempting to flee the flames when they were overcome. The victims were in the same general location, but it was unclear if they were related or connected in any way, officials said.

At least seven buildings were destroyed and several more were damaged.

Cordova estimated that some 1,500 homes had been affected by the evacuation order.

Radford Fire

To the north of the Fairview Fire, the Radford Fire chewed through dry shrubs and acres of drought-stricken pine trees near the mountain resort town of Big Bear Tuesday. The blaze broke out Monday in the San Bernardino National Forest between the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski resorts.

It grew to 450 acres by daybreak Tuesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Residents in the Seven Oaks community from Glass Road to South Fork River Road were forced to evacuate, and SR-38 between Mill Creek Road to Lakewood Road was shut down. The winding mountain road is one of just three main routes out of the Big Bear resort area, putting residents on edge as the wall of flames tears through the drought-stricken forest.

Barry Fire

The Barry Fire broke out around 12:55 p.m. Tuesday near Barry Hill Court and Sawmill Road in the unincorporated Rodeo-Martinez area and grew to approximately 50 acres in size, fire officials said.

The blaze was burning along eastbound state Highway 4 not far from the Franklin Canyon Road exit, according to California Highway Patrol dispatchers. A Sig-alert was issued at 1:23 p.m. for the roadway.

The freeway was closed until around 1:45 p.m. as crews from Cal Fire and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to the wildfire.

Franklin Fire

Forward progress was quickly halted on a wildfire that broke out early Monday evening near Rodeo in Contra Costa County, charring 100 acres.

The Franklin Fire, which burned near Franklin Canyon Road and state Highway 4, was 75 percent contained by 8 p.m. Monday and no structures were harmed, Cal Fire said. Nor were any injuries reported.

The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office briefly had evacuation warnings in place for the area.

The Associated Press, City News Service and Patch Staffers Maggie Fusek and Emily Rahhal contributed to this report.