Extreme heat kills 41-year-old hiker, closing some trails in Southern California

As another extreme heat wave settles over Southern California, a hiker’s heat-related death has closed several trails for the rest of the Labor Day holiday weekend, officials say.

A 41-year-old woman hiking at Tapia Park in Malibu Creek State Park died Saturday afternoon after suffering a heat-related seizure, KCBS reported.

Rescuers performed CPR on the woman but could not revive her, KABC reported. She died at 2:20 p.m. after having started hiking at 8 a.m.

All hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains have been closed through Labor Day following the death and rescues of other hikers, KTLA reported.

The city of Burbank also has closed Wildwood Canyon and Stough Canyon hiking trails because of the heat, according to the station.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of the Los Angeles area through 8 p.m Monday, with highs of up to 119 degrees forecast Sunday.

“Every heat wave could have that potential to be deadly,” said Eric Boldt of the National Weather Service, KCBS reported. “And this one in particular because it is so hot. We’re talking about possibly all-time records and that goes back over 100 years.”

Critical fire conditions also are expected with hot, dry winds forecast. Firefighters are already battling three fast-moving wildfires in California.

This story was originally published September 6, 2020 at 11:16 AM with the headline "Extreme heat kills 41-year-old hiker, closing some trails in Southern California."