Four “augmented” cooling centers will open in Los Angeles in response to the unusually hot Fourth of July weekend.
Libraries, recreation centers and other facilities make up a network of more than 150 cooling centers in Los Angeles County, many of which are expected to see higher-than-usual attendance this weekend as California’s heat wave continues through Tuesday.
The city of Los Angeles will be operating four additional centers with extended hours over the next six days for people seeking relief from the heat.
The extra installations will help compensate for some libraries and public facilities that will be closed on July 4 and Sunday, said Joseph Reiser, a spokesman for the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
As a heat wave hits much of California, raising concerns about wildfires and health risks, city officials are urging residents to take advantage of cooling centers.
In Death Valley, temperatures could reach as high as 129 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service warned that the heat wave in the Bay Area could create “very dangerous conditions,” with parts of Southern California facing “dangerously high temperatures.”
In Southern California, high temperatures are expected to be recorded from Thursday through Saturday, reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert and mountain areas. In the valleys it could be around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and on the coastal plains it could be in the 80s to 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Ventura County, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services issued an alert, urging residents to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day and check on elderly neighbors.
The county encouraged residents to visit public buildings, shopping malls, movie theaters and state and county libraries to stay cool.
The city of Thousand Oaks is offering five locations as potential cooling centers, including the Thousand Oaks Alex Fiore Teen Center, 1375 E. Janss Road, and the Thousand Oaks Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road.
In Orange County, a list of cooling centers, including hours of operation and services offered, is available online on the county’s website.
Los Angeles city and county officials are trying to get the word out that locals can beat the heat by visiting cooling centers, splash pads and other free public facilities.
Reiser said many people try to tolerate the heat on the first day, but by the second day they’re looking for ways to cool off.
“It really has to do with how long the heat lasts,” he says. “A lot of people can handle it the first day, but then they realize, ‘I can’t stand this.'”
The four expanded cooling locations will be open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:
Lake View Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd., Lake View TerraceMid Valley Senior Citizens Center, 8825 Kester Ave., Panorama CityFred Roberts Recreation Center, 4700 S. Honduras St., Los AngelesJim Gilliam Recreation Center, 400 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles
A complete list of cooling centers in the county is available online, along with opening hours and services offered.
Only service animals are allowed in public libraries, but pets are allowed in city recreation and park facilities.
The city also has a list of pools and splash pads available for use during the summer.
Reiser said the cooling centers could provide vital relief, even if only for a short period of time.
“In some places, it’s just a place for people to rest,” he says.
Reiser said officials would consider extending operations at the additional sites if the heat continues.
The county’s public health department on Tuesday urged residents, especially young children and the elderly, to take precautions against heatstroke over the next few days.
The city urged residents without access to air conditioning to use cooling centers.