Live Updates: Heat Advisory in effect as NC; temperatures remain over 100 degrees

Firefighters in Cary spent part of the Fourth of July battling a house fire while also dealing with extreme heat conditions.

Crews were called to a home on Oakmere Drive, near Chatham Street and Old Apex Road, just before 6 p.m. Officials said the fire started while a family was cooking on a back deck.

No injuries were reported.

Cary Fire Chief Mike Thompson said the incident serves as a reminder for people to be extra cautious when cooking outdoors, especially during the ongoing heat wave.

"We know what started on the back deck. They were cooking on the back deck," Thompson said. "It's the holiday. Everybody's trying to enjoy the Fourth of July. It's just a reminder to make sure that we're monitoring anytime we're cooking outside, to make sure it's all contained and that you keep a close eye on it because everything is very dry."

Thompson said the extreme temperatures also created additional challenges for firefighters. Because of the heat, additional crews were brought in so firefighters could rotate out of the fire scene and take breaks in air-conditioned vehicles.

Officials are reminding residents to closely monitor grills and other outdoor cooking equipment as hot, dry conditions continue across central North Carolina.

The Independence Day heat wave made history across central North Carolina on Saturday.

According to the National Weather Service, Raleigh reached 103 degrees, breaking its previous daily record high. Fayetteville also set a new record, climbing to 100 degrees.

The record-breaking temperatures came as much of central North Carolina remained under an Extreme Heat Warning, with heat index values soaring well above 100 degrees.

As temperatures climb into the triple digits, older adults across the area are taking extra precautions to stay safe during the heat.

For Louise Gooche, staying indoors is one way to reduce the risks associated with extreme temperatures.

"I'm 84 and I'm just so proud to talk about it," Gooche said.

Although she remains active and enjoys participating in activities, including cheering for a senior cheerleading squad, the heat has limited some of her usual routines.

"I do not walk outside like I used to in the heat. I just don't do it. It's not worth taking. The risk risks stay in air conditioned place," she said.

Gooche said her health history makes her especially mindful of heat-related dangers. She is a 23-year colon cancer survivor and said she remains aware of how her body responds to environmental conditions.

"Knowing that my body had about 6 to 9 months of additional chemicals added, I know that my overall resistance level is down and I have to be aware of what is going on internally as well as externally," she said.

According to the National Institutes of Health, older adults can have a harder time regulating body temperature, and some medications may impair their ability to sweat. As a result, extreme heat can pose serious health risks.

"I think it's very important to have them in cool air because how hot it is," said Abria Wilds, activity coordinator for the Durham Senior Life Center Adult Day Health Program.

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Wilds said the center adjusted plans for its annual Fourth of July barbecue because of the heat. Organizers moved the event indoors and changed the schedule to limit time spent outside.

"We did it early morning. We started cooking around like 9:00 and we finish around ready right before 12 ish," Wilds said. "So we would spend a lot of time indoor instead of outside."

Participants welcomed the change.

"It's very nice to communicate with people," said 91-year-old Mr. David.

Health officials say older adults face increased risks during periods of extreme heat.

State data shows heat-related emergency department visits are above average for this time of year. Dr. Ryan Lamb, emergency department director at UNC Rex, said hospitals are seeing an increase in heat-related illnesses and complications tied to chronic health conditions.

"It's even busier now than it was in May, for instance, and I'm sure that that's related to heat-related illnesses triggering those exacerbations of chronic conditions," Lamb said.

He said some older adults may not show signs of heat illness until conditions become more serious. Symptoms to watch for include nausea, vomiting and a lack of interest in eating or drinking.

"And then the main big, big, major one is if they get confused, if they start to not act appropriately, and that means whatever their baseline is, if it's a change from their baseline, and you're concerned about heat, or they have a fever, they need to come in right away," Lamb said.

Meanwhile, Gooche is doing what she can to avoid a heat-related trip to the emergency room.

"I'm here in the house keeping the air conditioning going on all of the time and keeping the ceiling fans going and keeping the curtains and everything closed and dark as much as possible," she said.

Health officials and caregivers say precautions such as staying in air-conditioned spaces, limiting outdoor activity during peak heat and monitoring for symptoms can help older adults stay safe during periods of extreme temperatures.

A naturalization ceremony held Saturday morning welcomed 49 new citizens from 25 different countries. The ceremony was included with North Carolina's First in Freedom events

As communities across the country celebrate Independence Day and America's 250th birthday, dozens of people marked the holiday by officially becoming U.S. citizens.

For many, the ceremony represented the culmination of a years-long journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives as Americans.

Officials said holding the ceremony on the Fourth of July added special meaning to the occasion. After taking the Oath of Allegiance, the new citizens gained the right to vote, serve on juries and fully participate in civic life in the United States.