People in Southern California are sticking close to air conditioners as the heat wave that began this week shatters more record highs.

It hit 116 degrees in Palm Springs, and 118 in Thermal, California. The record high for the Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles was smashed by four degrees -- 109.

Cooling centers for seniors are open in Los Angeles County, and people are being encouraged to visit air-conditioned malls and libraries in the evenings. Electricity use in Los Angeles has set a record for June.

At least one death is linked to the heat wave -- an elderly woman near the California-Arizona line.

The high temperatures are also helping fan small brush fires. One fire 70 miles east of San Diego has grown to 50 acres.