By Joe Nelson, Daily Bulletin Staff Writer
The San Bernardino County Coroner's Department reported its fifth and sixth heat-related deaths on Thursday as a record-breaking heat wave cooled and a late-afternoon rain fell.
Coroner investigators believe that blistering heat during the weekend contributed to the deaths of San Bernardino residents Thomas Rodriguez, 49, and Juan Ignacio Morales, 27, said Sandy Fatland, spokeswoman for the coroner's office.
They joined four others who are believed to have died in the county due to the heat from Friday to Sunday.
‘‘We feel that heat really contributed to their deaths, even though there were other medical issues involved," Fatland said.
Rodriguez was found unresponsive in a vehicle in the carport of his home on July 21. He was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
‘‘The temperature inside his vehicle at the time was 140 degrees," Fatland said.
Morales' roommates found him dead in his bed about 12:30 p.m. Saturday in their stifling San Bernardino apartment. The temperature inside the apartment was so hot police had turn the air conditioning on when they arrived, Fatland said.
Four other people died Saturday in record-breaking heat that saw highs of 112 degrees in the San Bernardino Valley and 110 degrees in the high and low desert.
Coroner officials received word from Chino Valley Medical Center about 12:20 a.m. Saturday that 44-year-old Ontario resident Darin Wynn was brought in in cardiac arrest and died. At 5:04 p.m., George Greenwood, 84, died at Barstow Community Hospital after his wife found him unresponsive in their Hinkley home, which did not have an air conditioner. About 7:20 p.m. Saturday, 45-year-old San Bernardino resident Guadalupe Hernandez was found lying next to a bicycle in the 2700 block of North Serrano Road. He was taken to Community Hospital of San Bernardino, where he died at 2:51 a.m. the following day.
On Sunday, 65-year-old Ricka McGuire was found dead about 7:15 p.m. in a bus where she lived, in Wonder Valley.
Statewide, the number of suspected heat-related deaths climbed to 90, according to county coroners' offices.
Weather forecasts show that relief is in sight, albeit minor.
‘‘For the past two weeks the high pressure was dominant over the western U.S. It created the heat wave in Southern California," said Noel Isla, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in San Diego. ‘‘Now, we're looking at a little bit of a change. By Monday, this high pressure center is going to retreat into Texas, and this will allow the low pressure system to affect the western U.S. for some drying and minor cooling."
The monsoonal effect that had been making the high temperatures feel unbearable may be helping firefighters by dropping moisture in the area where some of the wildfires still burned. By Thursday, the Oak, Ramp and Arrastra wildfires were 100 percent contained while the Heart-Millard Fire was listed at 75 percent contained, according to fire officials.
‘‘The weather is having a positive effect because it's lightning, but it's associated with moisture," said Deanna Younger, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.
However, lightning strikes did spark a few spot fires, but crews were able to extinguish them quickly, she said.
Meanwhile, Southern California Edison officials expected to have power fully restored Thursday to about 500 customers across the region. Among those who suffered power outages in the last weekend include residents and businesses in San Bernardino and pockets of Ontario and Highland, Edison spokesman Steven Conroy said.
"Obviously we got a break in the heat that has allowed us to restore the level of service to where we're at now, and we'll continue working throughout the night to make sure they get their power back on," Conroy said.
As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Edison technicians replaced 1,312 transformers throughout the 50,000 square-mile service area that includes the Inland Empire and areas of Los Angeles County, Conroy said, adding that anyone experiencing power problems is encouraged to call Edison's customer service number at 1-800-611-1911.
Cooling stations will remain open at senior centers across the county throughout the summer. The National Orange Show Events Center was also opened to the public as a cooling station, which will remain open indefinitely.
County health officials recommend drinking lots of water, wearing light and loose-fitted clothing, and avoiding unnecessary sun exposure, hot food and heavy meals.
AP contributed to this report
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