Temperatures Soar In The Southland And Folks Seek Cool Water

PALMDALE (CBSLA.com)  — The weathermen, and women, all said it would be hot Friday.

Talk about understatement. Just about everywhere -- triple digit temperatures were the norm.

Pools, fountains, the beaches were all busy with people trying to beat the heat. We sent reporters all over, namely Jeff Nguyen in the Antelope Valley and Louisa Hodge in Los Angeles.

In Palmdale, Nguyen reported, you could hear the unmistakable sound of relief -- people using a water slide in the Antelope Valley.

Nine waters slides to be exact, and a lazy river – drew the Miles family to Dry Town Water Park for the first time.

Little Patrice Miles -- decked out in a floatie -- is certainly a fan. "It's the water because I like it," she said.

Parents say a six-acre water park is a good diversion for kids with idle time.

"[With school out] they can get into a lot of trouble. Doing the wrong thing and all of that. You got your family with you. They might not get in trouble," said Patrice's dad, Lee Miles.

"Lifeguards, everyone. staff is wonderful. Everyone's friendly. I was really impressed walking in. the kids have lots to do," said Patrice's mom, Wendy Moore.

Nguyen reports that kids under 42 inches get into the water park for free. Admission is between $12-21 for the day. The cost is less for Palmdale residents because the park is owned and operated by the city.

Dry Town's General Manager says tickets sales cover about 90 percent of the operating costs – the city covers the rest.

"Because we are part of the recreation and culture department, we try to keep costs down," says Eric Dombrowski, Dry Town's General Manager.

The park added a new section last year to nearby double the number of water slides.

"We have a Jacuzzi at our house but it doesn't compare. Even if you have a pool, it doesn't compare to this," said Lee Miles.

Meanwhile, Louisa Hodge was on Heat Patrol in Griffith Park where fountains were very popular, but a large pool was inexplicably closed.

Karen Aguilar came in search of some pool relief with a friend and when they saw it was closed, she was crestfallen. "We were hot and we wanted to splash ourselves with water. I was like, 'oh my God!'. We came all the way from Highland Park and the pool is closed?"

The pool's supervisor said it was just a temporary closure and that maintenance workers had to fix the chlorine levels due to the heat.

"We have to maintain a minimum chlorine level according to the health department and with the sun and the heat and the volume of swimmers, the chlorine level dropped," said the pool supervisor.

With the extreme heat, firefighters were also at the ready.Officials said they normally get three heat-related calls when the temperature reaches triple-digits and today they doubled that number.

Dozens of cooling centers opened across LA County. Hodge found several at a library.

For a list of LA County cooling centers, click here.

For a list of Riverside County cooling centers, click here.

For information about cooling centers, click here.