California’s early summer fire fight is expanding as new blazes break out amid a new heat wave.

Over 5,200 firefighters are battling 9 large wildfires across the state.

Two new factors have been added to the fire danger. There is a chance for isolated lightning in the mountains of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties through Wednesday. And, 300 communities throughout California are beginning to sell so-called ‘sane-and-sane’ fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Most attention is focused on the Erskine Fire near Lake Isabella in Kern County. Although it is nearing 46,000 acres, some evacuations are being eased. Two hundred buildings including dozens of homes have been destroyed. A elderly couple lost their lives.

In Southern California, the San Gabriel Complex, the Serpa Fire in Santa Barbara County and the Border Fire In San Diego County are still not fully contained. Tens of thousands of acres have been blackened.

Story Date: June 29, 2016