Wildfire Season
Inmate firefighters stand near a burnt area in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of summer heat after unseasonably cool an...
Inmate firefighters stand near a burnt area in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of summer heat after unseasonably cool and damp weather in Southern California has increased the risk of wildfires as grass and brush withers into tinder dry fuel. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Wildfire Season
Burnt trees are shown in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of summer heat after unseasonably cool and damp weather in Sout...
Burnt trees are shown in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of summer heat after unseasonably cool and damp weather in Southern California has increased the risk of wildfires as grass and brush withers into tinder dry fuel. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Wildfire Season
Inmate firefighters carry water hoses as they walk through burnt tree branches in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of sum...
Inmate firefighters carry water hoses as they walk through burnt tree branches in Walnut, Calif., Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The abrupt arrival of summer heat after unseasonably cool and damp weather in Southern California has increased the risk of wildfires as grass and brush withers into tinder dry fuel. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Southern California was sweltering in triple-digit (over 37 Celsius) heat as monsoonal thunderstorms helped spark at least a dozen brush fires.
Fire officials say lightning strikes on Thursday were to blame for at least 15 fires in Riverside County and that strong winds are fanning the flames.
County fire spokeswoman Cheri Patterson says crews spotted more blazes while responding to reported fires.
In Lake Elsinore, they are working to control a fire that is burning a home and nearby vegetation.
The high topped 100 degrees (37 Celsius) in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley as a high-pressure ridge settled over the region. The weather system drew moisture from Mexico, resulting in higher humidity and an unstable airmass.
