Lafayette festivalgoers fall to heat illness

At least six visitors to the Lafayette Art, Wine & Music Festival were taken to a hospital Saturday afternoon, according to the Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

The first call to medics came in at about 4:10 p.m. from the festival near Moraga Road and Mt. Diablo Boulevard in downtown Lafayette, district Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said.

The first call was of one person needing help and about six minutes later the fire department received another call, Marshall said.

A total of eight ambulances responded, but at least two would not be used to transport people, he said.

The festivalgoers were suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion, Marshall said.

National Weather Service officials said the temperature in Lafayette registered 100 degrees at 3:30 p.m. and 4:17 p.m.