Thursday, July 5, 2012

Lexington cooling center to remain open; fireworks, outdoor burning bans still in effect

With temperatures expected to continue hovering around 100 degrees, Lexington officials will keep a cooling center open downtown through Saturday, July 7.

The Dunbar Community Center at 545 North Upper Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and residents are invited to come there to cool off, said Jerry Hancock, director of the city’s Division of Parks and 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.

Meanwhile, 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 two weeks in Lexington. The cause of 12 of those fires has been traced to the use of fireworks.