How hot is it?

True story: On Sunday, I did a load of clothes. This is when the Imperial Irrigation District wants us to use our appliances, during off-demand hours. Weekends are best; weekdays early or after dark. Avoid heavy appliance usage from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., if possible. This is peak demand time — back to the laundry.

So I put the clothes up on the solar dryer, aka, the clothesline around noon. About 15 minutes later, a pair of shorts began smoking. Then they burst into flames. My wife yelled, “they’re dry now!”

KHOT radio was broadcasting from Heber. It’s the warm spot on the dial. Juan reported that a white van heading south on Highway 111 was leaking runny chocolate. Evidently the driver was bringing a load of chocolate bars from a big box store to his small store in Calexico, but he had stopped in El Centro on the way. The van had heated up like an oven and chocolate was pouring out of the back of the van. Cars following the van skidded off the road in a gooey mess. It was as if Charlie’s Chocolate Factory had blown a pipe. Highway Patrol was on the scene, but there were no serious injuries. The kids in the van and following cars were in tears and inconsolable.

How hot is it? The Los Angeles Times had a weather story about heat in the Southland and how Death Valley was going to get seriously hot. For some reason, the Times doesn’t consider us part of California and rarely reports on the Valley. When it does, a fence or big drug bust has to be involved. So I looked at the National Weather Service website. During the peak heat between Sunday and Wednesday, the Valley’s projected highs beat Death Valley by at least two degrees. As I tell my out of town friends, the big difference is people live in Imperial Valley. Most of us are huddled around our air conditioners at this point, but we’re here. Occasionally, I see a guy or a kid bicycling by as if it was a cool January day. I want a sample of that DNA and find out what’s going on in there.

Here’s a task for the local chambers of commerce: come up with some fun hot heat activities to attract those German and Chinese tourists who flock to Death Valley to stand next to the giant thermometer when it’s 120 degrees. There could be the shaved ice race to see how far a tourist can run before their piña colada raspado melts. Or who can fry a sidewalk egg or two before passing out.

IID’s energy website has lots of useful and important tips to stay safe in this heat — www.iid.com/energy/save-energy-and-money/your-home/summer-energy-saving-tips/staycool-884

It’s especially important not to leave kids in a car even for a brief time. It’s still risky even when the car is left running and the A/C on. Just don’t chance it. Also, the website has a good reminder: check the child’s safety seat and buckle insuring it’s not uncomfortably hot. Don’t allow children to play around parked cars, and keep the car keys in a safe place.

If your A/C breaks down, there are cooling centers throughout the Valley. The IID website lists them.

For all of us, stay hydrated. That means drinking water even before you get thirsty. Sweet sodas don’t help so drink low sugar juices and Gatorade. Dig that sombrero out of the closet and wear it. I keep large hats by the two doors I use to exit the house. I know guys love their L.A. Dodgers baseball caps, but for this time of year go for the large straw hat. Wear one that casts some shade. You’ll be happier and healthier.

And there’s hope on the sunny horizon. By Friday, the temp is supposed to be down to a chilly 112. Stay well and avoid overheating.