Scorching heat in U.S. Prompts Fire Concerns

About 1.3 million homes and businesses in the eastern United States remained without power amid a heat wave on Tuesday, and storm damage and high temperatures forced many Fourth of July celebrations to be canceled. Violent weekend storms and days of record heat have killed at least 23 people in the United States since Friday. Some died when trees fell on their homes and cars, and heat stroke killed others. Utilities warned that some people could be without power - and unable to run their air conditioners - for the rest of the week. About 1.3 million homes and businesses from Illinois to Virginia remained without electricity.