ICY RECEPTION FOR AREA HEAT RESIDENTS TRY TO CHILL OUT.Byline: SUSAN ABRAM Staff Writer Outside was fire. Inside was ice. Turning a cold shoulder to the scorching scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. summer heat, some San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents sought refuge from Friday's triple-digit temperatures: at malls and movie theaters, beaches and pools, at frozen-dessert shops and, of course, ice skating ice skating, gliding along an ice surface on keellike runners known as ice skates. Skating as a Sport Skating, besides being an important form of winter recreation and the essential skill in the game of ice hockey (see hockey, ice) has developed rinks. ``We don't understand why more people don't come here,'' said a shivering Stan Durban as he took a coffee break during the public skating session at the Valley Ice Center in Panorama City, where he learned to skate 10 years ago, after reading a newspaper article on ``How to stay cool in the summer.'' ``It inspired me,'' said the Granada Hills resident. ``I had never skated before.'' Inside, where it seemed the world's biggest air-conditioning unit blasted cold air over white ice, free-style skaters donned hooded sweat shirts and pashminas, knitted gloves and leggings leg·ging n. 1. A leg covering usually extending from the ankle to the knee and often made of material such as leather or canvas, worn especially by soldiers and workers. 2. leggings a. while young boys from a hockey camp laced up to practice. Those who work at the skating center rejoiced that on summer days like these, they have what they call the best job on the planet. ``I was born and raised in Minnesota, so it's really nice to come in here,'' said youth hockey director Conor Sutton. ``I need my dose of frigid air.'' The relentless heat will only magnify mag·ni·fy v. To increase the apparent size of, especially with a lens. today as temperatures are expected to reach 110 in the Valley. ``(Today) should be the warmest -- that's the peak,'' said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service. ``Everyone should go out and get squirt guns and water balloons.'' As for when the heat wave could end? ``Well, let me look at the forecast. ... It's still hot on Sunday ... Monday ... Tuesday ... Thursday ...'' she said. ``Sorry. You could say it's cooling from 107 to 104.'' In fact, an excessive heat watch initially issued Thursday has been extended through today. ``The combination of hot temperatures and higher humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat-related illnesses are possible,'' according to a statement by the Weather Service. ``People tend to underestimate the heat and overestimate their abilities,'' said Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. , who stressed that youngsters, senior citizens and pets should be monitored closely for heat-related illness. While thousands of firefighters battled a massive wildfire in the San Bernardino Mountains San Bernardino Mountains, part of the Coast Range, S Calif., extending c.60 mi (100 km) NW and SE through San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Notable peaks are San Bernardino Mt. (10,630 ft/3,240 m) and Mt. San Gorgonio (11,485 ft/3,501 m). , the city Fire Department deployed brushfire brush·fire also brush fire n. 1. A fire in low-growing, scrubby trees and brush. 2. A relatively minor crisis. adj. crews as a precaution to key areas, including Sun Valley, Sherman Oaks and West Hills. Los Angeles County lifeguards A division of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, the Lifeguard operations safeguard 31 miles of beach and 70 miles of coastline, from San Pedro in the south, to Malibu in the north; Protecting about 55 million beach patrons annually. were counting on a busy weekend at the beach, where temperatures are expected to be a heavenly 70 degrees. ``It's definitely been a very active summer for beachgoers,'' said lifeguard spokesman Terry Harvey. ``We've only had a handful of days of overcast skies. All the other days have been just gorgeous.'' Meanwhile, ice cream parlors doubled up on ingredients for cool desserts with names that gave the illusion of winter. At the Dairy Queen inside the Northridge Fashion Center Northridge Fashion Center is a large shopping mall located in Northridge, California. It opened in 1971. It was severely damaged during the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but renovated extensively in 1995 and 1998. , manager Debbie Harris said she expects sales of caramel chip blizzards to peak. ``It's gonna be hot, and that's good,'' Harris said. ``It means good business.'' Don Whittemore, founder of Van Nuys-based Dandy Don's HomeMade Ice Cream, said his employees are set to make hundreds of sundaes this weekend for parties and barbecues. It's been so busy that even a man who specializes in cold desserts can't chill out for a few moments, he said. ``We haven't ever had business like this in 25 years,'' he said. ``I've been working steady for four weeks and I haven't had a day off.'' Staff Writer Patricia Farrell Aidem contributed to this report. susan.abram(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3664 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Sophia Stewart, 8, top, takes a break as Natalie Berilacqua, 8, left, and Beverly Cotter cot·ter n. 1. A bolt, wedge, key, or pin inserted through a slot in order to hold parts together. 2. A cotter pin. [Origin unknown. , 7, brave the heat in their hunt for fish at the CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge botanical garden Friday during Science Adventure Camp. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer (2 -- color) Stephanie Zamora, 14, right, of San Fernando helps sister Melissa, 9, on her first ice-skating outing Friday afternoon at the Valley Ice Center in Panorama City, which attracted residents looking to avoid the scorching Valley temperatures. (3 -- color) Mikayla Slepicoff, 8, of Van Nuys is able to keep her cool with a Friday afternoon visit to the Valley Ice Center in Panorama City. Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News |
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