Cooling centers open, plan on extending hours as Portland heat wave hits

Several fountains around the city were already being used by families as a place to cool off Monday, city pools are expected to be packed as well.

For those not interested in taking a splash, many communities still are offering many free or low-cost cooling options.

Multnomah County officials said they will be opening cooling centers around the metro on Tuesday, with three of those centers staying open with extended hours through next Monday.

The staff at the Hollywood Senior Center said they were extending their hours until 8 p.m. to offer a relief from the heat.

Rainy Crowl stopped by the center to look for some help dealing with the heat. She told FOX 12 that the summer has been tough on her and her cat and that she became worried after learning about the week-long heat wave.

Crowl was ecstatic to learn she qualified for a free fan from the center.

"I came down here to be cooler and to ask if there's anything because I don't have an income, if there was any way I could be cooler with my cat. She's diabetic and 17 years old," she explained. "I've been praying for days and my feet said to walk over here. I'm very grateful, I don't have any other way to stay cooler."

In addition to the Hollywood Senior Center, the Multnomah County Walnut Park Building and the Multnomah County East Building will also be open extended hours for the next week.

The centers will be open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Pets and children are welcome at the cooling centers.