Kent Opens Cooling Centers if Needed

Kent residents appeared to have braved Thursday's 90-plus degree temperatures and the excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service with ease.

Kent doesn't have any public buildings officially dedicated as cooling centers for residents without air conditioning in times of high temperatures. But the city does have a plan in place to open air-conditioned municipal buildings to residents when things get unbearable.

Kent Health Commissioner John Ferlito said the city doesn't start that contingency plan for cooling centers unless they get a high volume of 911 calls from people distressed by the heat.

"What we're doing is we're monitoring our calls, our ambulance calls that the fire department handles," Ferlito said. "If we see an increase in people who need relief, then we have a contingency plan to open some of the city buildings with air conditioning to let people stay there.

"But right now we haven't had any people call to say they're in distress," Ferlito said late Thursday afternoon. "But we're ready to do that if needed."

Kent Fire Capt. John Tosko said, as of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the department hadn't had a single call for heat stroke or other heat-related illnesses.

Though cooling centers aren't open, there are several options to beat the heat in Kent, including:

• The pool at has an open swim from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. Click here for admission rates.
• also offers a leisure pool and a lap pool that is open to the public. Click here for admission rates and information.
• Public buildings with air conditioning include: the ; ; and the
• Click here for other .

Today's high temperature is forecast to reach 93 degrees Fahrenheit. An excessive heat warning in place for most of the day Thursday expired at 9 p.m. Thursday night.