More than 90 million Americans are currently under heat advisories as a record-breaking heat wave grips the western United States, prompting emergency responses and new federal regulations aimed at protecting workers from extreme temperatures. Firefighters are battling several major wildfires in California, leading to thousands of evacuations, particularly due to the Thompson Fire in Oroville, which has already caused structural damage and injuries.

Haley Smith, an environmental reporter with the Los Angeles Times, highlighted the severity and duration of this heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 120 degrees in parts of the Coachella Valley and 115 degrees in the Sacramento area. The National Weather Service has warned that this heat wave could rival the most extreme events seen in the past 18 years, raising concerns about increased wildfire risks as the dry landscape becomes more susceptible to flames.

Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S., surpassing hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods combined over the last three decades. In California alone, a heat wave last year was linked to nearly 400 excess deaths. While officials are becoming more aware of the dangers posed by extreme heat, the risks remain significant. In response, cities like Los Angeles are activating cooling centers and launching public information campaigns to educate residents about heat safety.

In a significant move, President Biden's administration has proposed new regulations through OSHA that would establish heat safety standards for millions of workers, particularly in industries like agriculture and construction where temperatures often exceed safe levels. These regulations would require employers to provide water and mandatory rest breaks at temperatures of 90 degrees and above. This initiative aligns with California's existing heat standards and aims to protect workers in states with less stringent regulations.

Additionally, California is developing a heat wave ranking system to categorize the severity of heat events, similar to hurricane classifications. There is also a push at the federal level to expand FEMA's definition of a major disaster to include extreme heat, which could unlock additional funding for local governments to address this growing public health crisis.