Southern California heat wave brings triple-digit temperatures as wildfires burn

Triple-digit temperatures are gripping parts of Southern California as a heat wave continues across the region, bringing record-breaking temperatures and challenging firefighters battling a fast-moving wildfire.

(CNN)- Triple-digit temperatures are gripping parts of Southern California as a heat wave continues across the region, bringing record-breaking temperatures and challenging firefighters battling a fast-moving wildfire.

Heat alerts are expected to remain in effect for coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Thursday night.

According to the National Weather Service, at least three locations broke daily high temperature records, with additional records potentially falling in the coming days.

The unusually hot October weather has also affected fall activities across the region.

“I was like, fall, I was excited, you know, Halloween is coming up, but nah, I didn’t expect it to be this hot,” Jake’s Roadhouse employee Ariana Ramirez said.

The heat comes as firefighters battle the Bouquet Fire in the Angeles National Forest. The fire started Saturday and quickly spread to roughly 1,000 acres within hours, prompting mandatory evacuations, road closures and a large response from firefighters.

CAL FIRE said the blaze was nearly 50% contained as of Sunday night. The cause remained under investigation, though forest officials said investigators believe the fire may have been human-caused.

Meanwhile, another wildfire is burning in neighboring Nevada.

Officials believe the Bull Fire, which started Friday, was also human-caused. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire had burned more than 1,500 acres and was 40% contained.

“You know, it’s getting kind of scary,” Nevada resident Danette Tama said.