Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

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U.S. NEWS Saturday 7 July 2018

Southern California hit by record-breaking heat wave

By JOHN ANTCZAK, Associ- morning temperatures: At
ated Press 3 a.m., it was 98 degrees
LOS ANGELES (AP) — South- (36.6 Celsius) in Gaviota on
ern California sizzled Friday the Santa Barbara County
in record-breaking heat coast about 125 miles west
from the desert to the sea, of Los Angeles, the weather
with widespread triple-digit service said.
highs and withering condi- While beaches offered re-
tions that stoked wildfires. lief from the furnace-like
Officials urged people to conditions, forecasters
take advantage of cooling warned that a lingering
centers in libraries and oth- south swell from former Hur-
er facilities and to watch ricane Fabio would contin-
out for the elderly and very ue to combine with a local
young, warning that minor northwest swell to produce
heat-related illnesses can dangerous rip currents and
worsen quickly. the possibility of sneaker
Sidewalks and outdoor waves.
lunch tables were left to Residents toughing it out in
the blazing sun. Firefighters the valleys around Los An-
worked in extreme tem- geles and in the inland re-
peratures as they battled gion to the east faced the
outbreaks of wildfires, in- possibility of unhealthy air
cluding a destructive blaze quality. Air pollution regu-
in the San Diego County lators said the conditions
community of Alpine and A construction worker rehydrates on site during a blistering day of heat in downtown Los Angeles were likely to produce an
another that spread from on Friday, July 6, 2018. Associated Press atmospheric inversion that
a truck fire on Interstate would increase ground-
15 in Cajon Pass east of degrees behind the 119 of Los Angeles in Orange The offshore flow of air level ozone, which is linked
Los Angeles. Torrid condi- punishing the aptly named County, Los Alamitos Race pushing back the normal to a host of respiratory
tions were expected to last community of Thermal in Course canceled daytime moderating influence of troubles ranging from trou-
through Saturday before the low desert southeast racing after two races be- the Pacific Ocean had ble breathing to asthma
easing a bit Sunday. of Palm Springs. Southeast cause of the heat. produced startling early attacks.q
The heat was being pro-
dome of high pressure that Boat that ferried passengers to Boblo Island catches fire
duced by a “humongous”
was also spreading oppres-
sive conditions into parts DETROIT (AP) — A floating tory ... a lot of history,” po-
of Arizona, Nevada and piece of Detroit nostalgia lice Chief James Craig said.
Utah, the National Weath- was gutted by fire Friday as Ste. Claire owner Ron Kat-
er Service said. flames roared through one too called the fire and
“Today will be one for the of two historic steamships damage “heartbreaking”
record books,” the Los that once ferried people as firefighters on the dock
Angeles region weather from the city to an island doused the flames with
office said before sunrise amusement park in the De- hoses. Usually loaded with
— and within a few hours troit River. passengers, the Ste. Claire
records began to fall. The SS Ste. Claire caught and SS Columbia traveled
In downtown Los Angeles, fire while docked at a ma- for decades between De-
it was only 10:15 a.m. when rina east of downtown. troit and Boblo Island in
the mercury topped the The cause of the blaze was Canada, about 15 miles
July 6 mark of 94 degrees under investigation. Work (24 kilometers) away.
(34.4 Celsius) set in 1992 was being done on the The three-story, 197-foot
and kept on rising, hitting boat before the fire started Ste. Claire was built in
100 (37.7 Celsius) before about 11:30 a.m., accord- 1910. The Columbia was The SS Ste. Claire lists port side after catching fire at Detroit’s
noon and continuing up- ing to senior fire chief Geof- launched in 1902. The boats Riverside Marina on Friday, July 6, 2018.
ward. frey Rhodes. made their last runs in 1991, Associated Press
LA’s Woodland Hills neigh- Police and fire officials said and the amusement park Landmarks in 1992. before heading on to New
borhood was a record 115 it was doubtful the aging closed two years later. The Columbia was sold and York state, where it was to
degrees (46.1 Celsius) by vessel could be salvaged. Both steamships were des- moved by tugboat in 2014 be restored as a floating
early afternoon, just a few “It’s an iconic piece of his- ignated National Historic to Toledo, Ohio, for repairs museum.q