Washington, Jul 3 (PTI): A blistering heat wave gripping several states across the East Coast of the US prompted the closure of the Great American State Fair here Friday and forced cancellations of the Independence Day celebrations across the region. Great American State Fair was postponed until 5 PM due to extreme heat. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP ) The heat index — what the temperature feels like with humidity — is forecast to reach a scorching 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 deg C) in Washington, DC, on Friday. Early Friday afternoon, Freedom 250 announced that the Great American State Fair on the National Mall would temporarily close until 5 pm due to the heat. “The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority,” the Trump Administration-supported group said in a statement on X. Due to the heat, Independence Day parades have been cancelled in Leesburg, Virginia, as well as in Laurel and Takoma Park, Maryland. Despite the scorching heat, the annual Capitol Fourth Concert will still be held on …