Cooling facilities available locally

Published 11:18 pm Monday, July 27, 2009

Due to the region’s excessive heat, Pierce County libraries and other facilities are inviting people to stop by and cool off, according to the county’s Department of Emergency Management.

With temperatures expected to exceed 95 degrees in some places this week, these air-conditioned facilities can be valuable respites from the heat.

Citizens are also encouraged to take advantage of cooler air in other public buildings such as movie theaters, malls and other stores with air conditioning.

The following are the locations and times the facilities will be open (no food or beverages will be provided):

• Bonney Lake Library, 18501 90th St. E., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

• Buckley Library, 123 S. River Ave., 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

• Sumner Library, 1116 Fryar Ave., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

The Bonney Lake Senior Center, 19304 Bonney Lake Blvd., is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It’s not available Friday.

All Lowe’s and Petsmart locations allow people and their pets to come in and get out of the heat.

Pets need to be on a leash or in a crate and owners must provide water if they plan on being in the stores for long periods of time.