North Bay prepares for possible fires, power outages amid heat wave

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- On Wednesday in Santa Rosa, outdoor thermometers flirted with three digits while residents hunkered down for three days of heat and all that comes with it.

That includes fire.

RELATED: These Bay Area hot spots will have sweltering temperatures

For the second time in a week, a tractor doing weed abatement ignited a field of brush.

For a short time, Christina Roylston thought her home on McMinn Avenue might be a goner.

"I heard a sound and saw a wall of flame like I have never seen before," said Roylston.

VIDEO: Heat stroke vs heat exhaustion: What's the difference and what are the symptoms?

AccuWeather has the details you need to know about heat stroke, a serious health condition, and heat exhaustion, which can precede it.

"We're in a heat advisory," added Assistant Fire Marshall Paul Lowenthal. "These are not the kind of conditions we want to see people operating machinery."

If this heat wave had hit after July 1, we would have found a crowd at Spring Lake, but it has not yet opened. Three lifeguards showed up, however, for training.

"Wear your sunscreen. Drink your fluids," said 18-year-old Kaitlyn Chrisman. "And know your limits. So, if you are out, take frequent breaks because you never know when you are going to go down."

She's a very convincing lifeguard.

VIDEO: Tips to stay safe during the hot summer months

Being cautious during the summer months can help prevent heat related illness.

Watch the latest AccuWeather forecast and take a look at recent weather stories and videos.