Kids keep their cool with ‘Winter in July’

The air was thick with the fog of war in Rochester Heights Park on Wednesday, as children scurried in all directions, lobbing snowballs at each other to beat the heat.

But these “snowballs” were actually marshmallows and flour, which made a soft “puff” and a cloud of dust when they slammed into the children who were throwing them.

“You don’t want to be hit by those,” said 7-year-old Autumn Solomon, ducking incoming fire and launching a handful of dust and sugar. Despite their fluffiness, “sometimes they hurt,” she said, smiling. “Especially when you get hit in the face.”

Solomon and more than 15 other kids in the Northeast Youth Center’s summer camp were participating in a Winter in July celebration, part of a weeklong camp complete with gingerbread houses, a Christmas tree and hot chocolate. The youths were getting a mental escape from the warmest week of the summer so far, with temperatures hovering around 90 and an expected high of 98 today. Accuweather predicted a high of 94.

The National Weather Service predicts a relative cool-down over the weekend into the mid-80s with a possible thunderstorm Friday, but next week will warm back up into the mid-90s.

The warm temperatures and a steady wind helped contribute to a fast-moving fire south of Cheney Wednesday. The fire burned four acres before crews, assisted by a PBY aircraft, contained the blaze.

The fire season has been slow so far this year, but with fuels “rapidly drying,” Steve Harris, fire prevention coordinator of the Department of Natural Resources, said the risk for fires is high.

“We’ve been low in terms of fire danger, but that’s quickly changing,” he said. “It’s a little late coming but it’s off and running now.”

People outdoors can take simple steps to make sure they don’t start the next blaze, Harris said. Check to see if burn bans are in effect, and only light campfires in designated campsites, he said. Also, because of the wet spring, grass grew very lush this year and might get ignited by a car’s catalytic converter, he said.

With temperatures warming above 90, pollution becomes a concern for the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority.

When the sun beats on emissions from cars, lawn equipment and fuel pumps, it forms ground level ozone, a pollutant that can cause health problems.

“If you have existing problems such as asthma it could affect you,” said Ron Edgar, of SCAPCA. “Ozone is a very reactive gas, and it may react with the soft tissues of the lungs and eyes.”

Fires and pollution weren’t on the minds of the kids in northeast Spokane, though. After their snowball fight and coated head to toe in white flour, the youngsters took part in a sledding contest. Atop a tall, green hill, the campers took turns sliding down on large blocks of ice.

Camp counselor Keri Pruss was checking names in a folder and asked 10-year-old Jonah Trail-Eraux if he’d had a chance to ride down the hill yet.

“Yes,” the boy proudly said, turning around and revealing a soaking-wet backside. “And this is the proof.”

Seven-year-old Cody Shuford said the snowball fight was clearly the highlight of the day and reminded him of cooler times.

“I liked it when I threw the dust and snowballs at Ray,” Shuford said. “I got him in the face, but he got me in the mouth.”