LOS ANGELES () — A potentially record-breaking and dangerous heat wave is building across Southern California, beginning what is expected to be nearly a week of extreme temperatures that have sparked fears of heat-related illnesses.
To offer an escape from the heat, libraries, recreation centers and other locations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties are opening as cooling centers for residents.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a news conference Monday afternoon, where she discussed her plans to protect Angelenos from the record-breaking heat that will impact the city.
“As a former nurse and a physician assistant, I know first-hand that this heat is something to treat extremely seriously, and I’m making sure the city is preparing accordingly,” Bass said in a statement. “Hundreds of city facilities, including libraries and recreation centers, are available for Angelenos who need to stay cool. Do not hesitate — get indoors and into air conditioning and protect yourself.”
“If you need to be outside, please plan to conduct your activities in the early morning hours of the day,” LAFD Chief Jaime Moore said at the news conference.
The city has hundreds of locations open for relief from the heat, including recreation and park facilities and local library branches. For locations and hours, people can visit laparks.org/reccenter and lapl.org/branches for information about the cooling centers, or call 311 to learn more.
L.A. has selected the following locations to operate under extended hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., exclusively to residents and their pets who may seek relief from the heat in areas such as the San Fernando Valley, downtown and South Los Angeles:
— Canoga Park Senior Citizen’s Center, 7326 Jordan Ave.
— North Hollywood Senior Citizen Center, 5301 Tujunga Ave.
— Pecan Recreation Center, 145 S. Pecan St., downtown L.A.
— Algin Sutton Recreation Center, 8880 S. Hoover St.
Click the following links for information on additional cooling centers in Southern California:
Los Angeles County
Orange County
San Bernardino County
Riverside County
Ventura County
City News Service contributed to this report.
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