With temperatures expected to rise to near 100 degrees again this week, Lexington officials said Tuesday they will reopen a cooling center downtown.
The Dunbar Community Center at 545 North Upper Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 4, through Saturday, July 7, and residents are invited to come there to cool off, said Jerry Hancock, director of the city’s Division of Parks & Recreation.
Lexington residents who need a ride to the center can use LexTran for free, said Jill Barnett, a spokesperson for LexTran. Officials suggest if you are coming to the center, bring a blanket, pillows and bottled water.
Meantime, a total ban on the use of common and consumer fireworks continues. The ban will remain in effect until the Division of Fire and Emergency Services lifts the outdoor burning ban it issued last week.
Since the ban was announced Monday, fire officials have traced the cause of a house fire to fireworks. In addition, there have been 146 grass fires in the past 2 weeks in Lexington. The cause of 12 of those fires has been traced to the use of fireworks.
The ban will not affect the five public fireworks displays that already have permits, including the community fireworks held downtown on July 4, and the Red, White and Boom display on July 7 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
