The City of Los Angeles is implementing a series of measures to protect residents ahead of an extreme heat event forecasted for later this week. According to the National Weather Service, an Excessive Heat Warning will be in effect for the Los Angeles region from Thursday, August 21 through Saturday, August 23, with temperatures expected to reach up to 108°F in the San Fernando Valley.
At a press conference, Mayor Karen Bass, Interim Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Chief Ronnie Villanueva, and other city leaders outlined coordinated actions by multiple agencies to safeguard Angelenos.
Weather Conditions
Currently, there are no fire weather alerts within Los Angeles city limits. However, a Red Flag Warning will take effect beginning Wednesday, August 20 for areas outside the city, including the mountains and foothills of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.
Cooling Centers and Public Resources
The City is offering hundreds of public spaces as relief from the heat, including Recreation and Parks facilities and Los Angeles Public Library branches. Locations and hours can be found at laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches, or by calling 3-1-1.
In addition, the City will operate augmented cooling centers open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM:
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Wednesday, August 20 – Saturday, August 23
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Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center (7326 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park)
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North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center (5301 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood)
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Thursday, August 21 – Friday, August 22
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Pecan Recreation Center (145 S. Pecan St., Los Angeles)
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Algin Sutton Recreation Center (8800 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles)
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All cooling centers are accessible to individuals with disabilities and functional needs. Public pools and splash pads will remain open during regular hours.
Fire Department Readiness
The LAFD is deploying additional resources, including wildland hand crews, fire engines, water tankers, and a dozer strike team, to high-hazard areas. This includes the recently established Crew 4, a 26-member wildland hand crew trained in wildfire response, vegetation management, and all-hazard incidents.
The department has already completed more than 150,000 brush clearance inspections for 2025 and continues to maintain fire roads.
Safety Guidance for Residents
Residents are advised to:
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Stay hydrated and avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
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Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion (dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headache) and heat stroke (high body temperature, confusion, loss of consciousness).
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Call 911 immediately if heat stroke is suspected.
Heat safety information is available in multiple languages at emergency.lacity.org/heat.
Pet Safety
The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services urges residents to:
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Never leave pets in vehicles.
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Provide shade and fresh water at all times.
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Avoid walking pets during peak heat hours or on hot pavement.
More tips are available at LAAnimalServices.com/hot-weather-tips.
Support for Unhoused Residents
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is distributing heat safety information, water, and cooling center details through outreach teams. Hotel vouchers are being provided to bring individuals indoors. Cooling and hydration stations are open in Skid Row, including the ReFresh Spot (544 Towne Avenue), which offers water, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities, open 24/7.
Energy Conservation
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is urging customers to reduce electricity use to prevent strain on the power grid. Recommendations include:
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Setting thermostats to 78°F.
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Limiting appliance use to morning or late evening hours.
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Closing curtains during peak heat.
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Unplugging devices when not in use.
Outages can be reported at ladwp.com/outages or by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP. Customers can also sign up for outage alerts at ladwp.com/outagealert.
Alerts and Notifications
Residents are encouraged to sign up for local emergency alerts at NotifyLA.org and LAFD notifications at lafd.org/alerts.
