Fresno schools rolling back outdoor activities during triple digit heat

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- With triple digit heat scorching the Valley this week, local schools are pulling back on outdoor activities.

On an extremely hot day like Monday, school is a little rough and temperatures were soaring by morning. Students hide from the sun in the shade and Yosemite Middle School Principal Nichole Horn keeps a close eye on them.

"We encourage them to drink a lot of water, fill up their water bottles when they're in the cafeteria," she said.

She treats the heat a lot like a storm. All outdoor activities are canceled, and physical education is confined to the gym. But even inside, it gets stuffy so industrial fans are brought in to keep the air circulating.

"Yes, circulating hot air, that's a lot different than having air conditioning," athletic manager Brett Mar said.

When the temperature hits 105, all coaches have to be extra cautious. Games will be shut down and teams have to practice after 7 p.m. when it cools down or hold off until morning.

"The safety of our students," Mar said. "That's number one and making sure we have good communication between our site leaders, our athletic directors and then our coaches."

Principal Horn says golf and volleyball games will likely be canceled at her school this week. Practice will go on, but it'll take place inside the classroom. She says the kids might be a little disappointed, but it's for the best.

"We don't want anything to happen to them, otherwise they might not be able to play later on in life," she said.