Heatwave to impact Central and South Coasts brings elevated fire danger

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The prolonged heatwave will do more than make you sweat in the Central and South Coasts, it will bring critical fire danger to our community, causing a risk to many across the region.

Daniel Swain, a UCLA Climate Scientist, projected this scenario, saying it will be hot for long enough this week for fires to really take off.

Swain said this kind of heat can very quickly dry out the new amount of growth in vegetation across the region created by the historic winter and spring rainfall this year.

"If you have all this extra growth with brush and grass, especially at lower elevations early in the season when it remains wet and cool," proposed Swain, "And then we get a prolonged mid or late-season heat event or multiple prolonged heat events later in the season, you could still dry all that extra vegetation out and cause a significantly active fire season despite how cool and moist its been."

Fire departments in Santa Barbara County are warning people to be extremely careful outdoors, especially around dry brush, as always.

As for staying cool in the hot weeks ahead, you can stay indoors with the air conditioner on, go to any beach in the city, and even get some delicious ice cream at some local parlors.

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