PHOENIX, AZ — A severe stretch of heat is intensifying across the western United States, creating a dangerous mix of public health and fire concerns. Forecasters and officials are warning residents to take the heat seriously as temperatures climb and conditions stay hot for an extended period.
The main risks include heat exhaustion, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers and people without reliable cooling. The same weather pattern is also making it easier for fires to start and spread in already dry areas.
Emergency planners often treat these events as more than just uncomfortable weather because the effects can cascade quickly, affecting hospitals, utilities, schools and neighborhoods where cooling access is limited.
What makes this heat wave especially dangerous
Heat becomes more threatening when it lasts long enough to prevent overnight recovery. Warm nights can keep the body from cooling down, which raises the odds of illness even for healthy people who spend part of the day outdoors…