Reminder: Public Buildings Are Cooling Centers During Extreme Heat; Where to Find Open Water Fountains

[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]os Angeles city and county facilities such as public libraries, parks and recreation centers, and senior centers are officially Cooling Centers during extreme heat such as this weekend's heat wave. There are also public water fountains available for your use.

The National Weather Service has an extreme heat weather warning in effect through Monday.

Studio City hit 112 degrees. This KTLA reporter said news cameras and equipment were shutting down under the higher temperatures. A landscaper named Sergio Lopez told him he had to take five-minute breaks to avoid overheating his trimmer.

Many public buildings, paid with your tax dollars, are opened as cooling centers. Here's where to find your closest facility in L.A. County:

Recreation and Parks Facilities: To find your nearest Recreation Center, visit: laparks.org/reccenter. To find your nearest Senior Center, visit: laparks.org/scc

Library Facilities: To find your nearest library branch, visit: lapl.org/branches

L.A. County Facilities: For more information about these locations, call LA County 2-1-1 or visit the LA County website for a listing of active cooling centers: bit.ly/BeatTheHeat17

Also, here are cooling centers available broken down by cities within L.A. County.

Here is where you can find free public water fountains. There is a pair at La Plaza at Olvera Street. There is also one at Gladys Park in the Skid Row area. More here:

Tujunga Wash area
North side of Foothill Bl. across from 9500 Foothill
Los Angeles, CA 91040

San Julian Park
Southwest corner of E. 5th St. and San Julian St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Gladys Park
Southwest corner of Gladys Ave. and E. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90021

La Plaza De Culturas y Artes
Southeast corner of Spring St. and New High St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

La Plaza De Culturas y Artes
Northeast corner of Spring St. and Arcadia St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Exposition Park area
Southwest corner of W. 39th St. and S. Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA 90037

Elsewhere in Southern California, wildfires destroyed structures in Goleta and Alpine, a startling early start to the dangerous fire season in California. Read L.A. Times coverage here and here.

Use Your Public Beaches!

Also last night, The Taco drove to Venice beach at 1 am and found it vibrant with brown families including small children cooling off on the sand until well past 2 am. The beach was being used by the public in a safe and coherent manner during the heat.

RELATED: Venice ~ L.A. Taco All Stories