Northern Nevada is heading into the Fourth of July holiday under an excessive heat watch, according to the National Weather Service.
For seniors in need of reprieve from the excessive heat, the Washoe County Human Services Agency will open the Washoe County Senior Center for a limited time during the Fourth of July, extend hours this Friday, next week, and will remain open throughout the weekend.
Special Hours of Operation
Fourth of July, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, July 5, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday-Friday, July 8-12, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
We encourage Washoe County’s elderly to utilize the Senior Center as a great way to socialize with others and our friendly staff in an air-conditioned building. Free water will be provided. Seniors are more prone to heat stroke, so we urge seniors to stay inside and drink plenty of liquids.
If you are a senior and don’t have a fan to help you stay cool during the summer months, come pick-up a brand new one at the Washoe County Senior Center, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or while we are open this weekend. Those wishing to donate a fan can do so at the Washoe County Senior Center front desk.
The Washoe County Senior Center is located at 1155 E. Ninth Street, Reno.
The aquatics facilities are open and an excellent place to safely play in water. Washoe County offers a recreational pool and splash pad at Bowers Mansion Regional Park, and two large-scale splash pads at Melio Gaspari Water Play Park and North Valleys Water Splash Park.
Residents can also use the Washoe County Libraries, which offer comfortable seating and complimentary wi-fi. Library branches will be closed on Thursday, July 4, for the holiday, but are open for varying hours the rest of the week and over the weekend.
Those experiencing homelessness can use the Resource Center at the Nevada Cares Campus. The center is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and there is indoor air-conditioned seating, water, meals, restrooms, and laundry facilities. There is also on-site case management and resources.
Extreme temperatures are especially dangerous for pets, and confining your dog or cat to the inside of a car, even on a mild day, can result in a life-threatening situation for your pet. Per state law, it is illegal to allow a cat or dog to remain unattended in a parked or standing motor vehicle during a period of extreme heat or cold or in any other manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog. To report a distressed animal in a locked car, contact Washoe County Regional Animal Control Dispatch at (775) 322-DOGS between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Contact 911 after hours.
High heat, dry vegetation, and holiday fireworks a recipe for disaster, and Washoe County reminds residents that it is illegal to possess or use fireworks and/or pyrotechnics within the Truckee Meadows and North Lake Tahoe Fire Districts, which includes the unincorporated areas of Washoe County. Call 9-1-1 to report the use of illegal fireworks.
For information on the weather forecast and how to stay safe in high temperatures, please visit the National Weather Service.
