THE HEAT IS ON

County residents seek relief from unrelenting hot weather

WEST CHESTER» With the fourth day of temperatures in the 90s many Chester County residents were sweating it out, with no relief in sight until Tuesday. And while most people have air-conditioning, just getting to your car can be an unpleasant experience.

The National Weather Service issued a excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. Friday evening with overnight temperatures mostly falling back only into the 70s, but remaining near 80 in highly urbanized areas.

There were three heat-exposure incidents throughout the county Wednesday into Thursday reported Patty Mains, assistant director for External Liaison and Public Information at Chester County Department of Emergency Services. None were serious, she said.

“Stay hydrated, elderly and children should stay in air-conditioning,” Mains suggested in an email. “If there is no airconditioning either go to a public place or at least open windows with fans blowing. If

working outside, take many breaks in shade and stay hydrated.”

On the steps of the historic County Courthouse Scott Vassil was doing a brisk business selling hot dogs Thursday.

“It’s July, it’s supposed to be hot,” Vassil said as he served up a chilli dog to Calvin Card of West Chester. “We usually sell a lot of water in weather like this

but it’s National Hot Dog week and business has been good.”

Easttown Township announced trash pickup would start at 6 a.m. Friday so crews would be able to finish before the worst heat of the day.

Along the Riverwalk in Coatesville families were staying cool playing in the splash fountain.

“It’s nice here, it’s a great place to cool off,” said Kevin Fuller as he watched his son Kevin Jr. play in the fountains. “We come nearly every day.”

“It’s too hot,” said Taren Hales of Coatesville, who was also at the Riverwalk with her four children. “We had a pool here all my life, it would be nice to have it open.”

Coatesville’s pool in Ash Park has been closed for the past two years due to a lack of funds to repair and reopen it. A resident started a GoFundMe.com effort to raise money for the pool; however, it ended with less than $300 in pledges.

West Chester also is trying to raise funds for its public pool at the Melton

Center. It has a fundraising goal of $350,000 to reopen the facility, which has been closed for 15 years.

PECO Energy offers ideas to keep homes cooler, including keeping shades and curtains closed. According to PECO about 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply closing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat in your home.

The National Weather service predicts temperatures dropping into the high 80s over the weekend.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA With temperatures in the 90’s Coatesville’s Riverwalk fountain was the place to be Thursday. Kevin Fuller, 6, and Lyric Williams, 7, both from Coatesville, have a fun water battle in the water spouts.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA With temperatures in the 90s, Coatesville’s Riverwalk fountain was the place to be Thursday. Lyamoni Jones, 9, of Coatesville cools off in the water spouts.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Marley Mullen, 3, cools off with an ice cream yogurt following yoga class with her mom, Rachael, Thursday. The two stopped at Kiwi Yogurt in West Chester.