Temperatures were as high as 110 in the mountains of Malibu.
By Jonathan Friedman / The Malibu Times
As was the case for the rest of Los Angeles County, there was a major temperature spike in Malibu on Monday. The National Weather Service reported it reached 103 degrees at 2 p.m., according to a measurement point in Malibu Park. That was relatively cool compared to more elevated areas just outside Malibu, where the temperature went above 110.
It was still hot on Tuesday, but the temperature had dipped to the 90s. Even cooler weather was expected on Wednesday, with temperatures going further down as the week progressed.
A spokesperson for the National Weather Service said it does not track temperature records for Malibu. A record was broken in Downtown Los Angeles, where it was 113 degrees on Monday. Other eye-popping temperatures included 103 in Santa Monica, 111 in Long Beach, 111 in Woodland Hills and 108 at UCLA.
In the fire-prone City of Malibu, high temperatures mean fire risk. The Corral Fire in 2007 that destroyed more than 50 homes and injured firefighters began after a campfire constructed during a Red Flag Warning period got out of control. Brad Davis, the city’s director of emergency preparedness, said he was on alert throughout the day.
“For a short-term, high weather spike like that, we’re just watching,” he said. “I had the fire radio on and was watching all the TV channels. We were monitoring everything.”
There were no significant fire incidents, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Frederick Stowers said. He said the department was prepared with extra staffing in vulnerable locations such as Malibu. Fire officials patrolled the area, looking for anything suspicious. Due to the heat, the departments made sure firefighters were extra hydrated.
When the temperature gets this high, Stowers said it is important for people to “be smart.”
“Many of these fires start accidentally,” he said. “People need to take precautions such as lighting barbecues in an open area and having a water hose or a bucket of water nearby.”
He said residents should also do “preventative maintenance” such as brush clearance.
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station reported no incidents in the Malibu area related to the heat. A fire in Thousand Oaks begun on Monday was blamed on the heat. The temperature in that city topped the 100-mark. No structural damage or injuries were reported with that fire. An investigation into how it exactly started is underway.
Davis said there were no reports of heat-related illnesses in Malibu. He said that is not usually an issue in Malibu, where most people either have air conditioning in their homes or access to it. He said elderly people can use the Senior Center, located inside City Hall at 23815 Stuart Ranch Rd., if needed.
“People are encouraged to stay hydrated and stay out of the heat if they can,” Davis said.
Carly Erickson contributed to this article.