Valley Residents Smart around Heat | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Fresno, CA Emergency crews have only responded to 2 heat related calls in the area Saturday. That's good news in a city of nearly half a million. One fire official said it's because people are playing it safe around this triple digit heat.

Without a pool to cool off her three active kids in this Fresno triple digit heat, Patricia Carter said she would go crazy. "It's irritable. It's hot. Kids are hot. Everybody's hot."

When temperatures are forecast to reach at least 105, 11 public pools across Fresno open for free and even more cooling centers like this one at the Frank H. Ball center open as well providing relief from those hot rays.

"It's not the time to necessarily be frugal with air conditioning. Folks really need to monitor their condition," said Battalion Chief Jonathan Chew.

Chew added if you're not willing to run your air conditioner to head to one of six cooling centers. About fifty people are showing up daily to each one when they open.

Chew: "If they get overloaded there's another four sites."

A cooling center and a pool aren't for everyone. Evidence of that can be seen here at the Lost Lake where water flows out of the mountains and down here cooling everyone in its path.

"You have to have those fluids inside and outside. One in and one over the head," laughed Kathy Jennings of Clovis.

Dozens of families showed up to Lost Lake park Saturday. Officials say July is the busiest time of the year.

"We can watch the kids. Be comfortable and once in a while we can jump in," said Fresno's Daniel Martinez.

At Woodward park open fields are usually filled with soccer games and volleyball however many visitors found comfort hiding under trees…even canada geese stayed in the shade.

Direct sunlight can easily cook playground equipment which is why many parents we spoke to favored covered play areas like this one over those exposed to direct sunlight.