Fires are spreading quickly in California, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations at a popular lakeside campground and a summer camp where flames temporarily trapped children.
The fire that started in early Saturday afternoon spread to both sides of Highway 154 and was "completely out of control", county fire Captain Dave Zaniboni said. About 90 children and 50 counsellors were struck at the Circle V Ranch and had to take shelter there until they could be safely evacuated.
The fire was one of three in the state that grew quickly as much of California baked in heat that broke records in Southern California.
A record that stood 131 years in Los Angeles was snapped when the temperature spiked at 36C downtown. The previous record of 35C was set in 1886, the National Weather Service said.
Excessive heat sent Southern Californians flocking to beaches and in search of water, shade and air conditioning to escape the heat.
Forecasters warned that triple-digit temperatures up to 43C would be common in some inland areas and could be deadly for the elderly, children and outdoor workers. Air quality reached unhealthy and very unhealthy in areas inland from Los Angeles.
High temps and dry gusts helped a fire in Santa Barbara County double in size overnight to more than 23sq/km over eight hours and forced evacuations of about 200 homes in a rural area east of Santa Maria, fire spokesman Kirk Sturm said.
In the middle of the afternoon, Santa Barbara officials sent out alerts to residents and campers near Cachuma Lake to evacuate as the fire started near Whittier Camp.
The lake, which was nearly bone dry last summer after the severe drought, is popular for camping, boating and fishing. Residents were also ordered to leave cabins in the Los Padres National Forest.
