VALLEY PRESSURE-COOKER HITS 107 COUNTY ISSUES HEALTH ADVISORY AS RESIDENTS TRY TO BEAT SWELTERING HEAT.

Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS - Jerry Le doesn't mind the heat that much. After all, Le, a 32-year-old resident of Simi Valley, spends 15 minutes every day in a sauna, with temperatures hitting 180.

``Hey, 107 isn't that bad compared to 180,'' Le said.

For the next few days, the San Fernando Valley may feel like a giant sauna.

The mercury hit 107 degrees Friday - short of the high of 112 set in 1985 in Woodland Hills - and it's expected to hit 108 degrees today and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures should cool slightly to 103 degrees Monday and 94 degrees Tuesday.

``It's too hot to be outside,'' said Dennis Chiu, 33, who joined Le inside Yankee Doodles in Woodland Hills to fight the heat with cold beer and billiards. ``We came here to get out of the heat.''

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services issued a heat advisory because of the sizzling temperatures, urging anyone who is going to spend time outside to wear light, loose-fitting clothes, drink plenty of water and avoid unnecessary exertion.

``It's come relatively late, but this is one of the worst heat spells we've seen,'' said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's director of public health. ``It's amazing - sometimes I go out in the San Fernando Valley and I see somebody jogging. It's 106 degrees, and they're jogging on the road.

``You just wonder if they're exercising the kind of caution that makes sense.''

Fielding said it was important not to leave people or pets in closed cars and to avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun.

Despite the heat, officials said the extra drain on power resources from air conditioners and other appliances should not cause any rolling blackouts like the ones that hit Thursday, when 500,000 Southern California Edison customers lost power after a transformer malfunction put extra pressure on the power grid.

``We don't expect any problems,'' said Gale Harris, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which co-owns the problematic transmission line with Edison. ``Repairs were made to the converter station (Thursday) night, and we don't expect any problems. It was a transmission problem, not a supply problem.''

Still, power officials urged customers to try to conserve power when possible by setting the thermostat to 78 degrees and avoiding the peak early afternoon hours for activities like laundry.

``It's rigorous, man,'' Le said of the heat. ``I've never heard of 107. I'm kind of worried about the weather. It's been so different this year.''

Josh Kleinbaum, [phone]

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com

BEAT THE HEAT

--Wear light-colored, loosely fitting clothes.

--Drink water or sports drinks often.

--Offer assistance to and frequently check on neighborhood shut-ins.

--Stay in an air-conditioned area during peak hours. Visit public facilities such as shopping malls or libraries, if necessary.

--Avoid unnecessary exertion if you are outside or in a building that isn't air-conditioned.

--Avoid unnecessary sun exposure.

--When in the sun, wear a hat with a brim and sunscreen.

Source: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Tony Audenino, 8, gives his big sister Adrianna, 11, a ride on his back in a neighbor's pool Friday in Newbury Park.

(2) Adrianna Audenino, 11, swims to escape the sweltering heat.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

Box:

BEAT THE HEAT (see text)