Heat Wave Moves Into 4th Day

Gallery

Temperatures Rising

The East Coast is trying to cope with a massive heat wave as temperatures climbed toward the century mark.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

"They say we're going to get a break because the highs will only be in the 80s," he said as he waited in his air-conditioned van. "When temperatures in the 80s sound like a break, you know it's bad."

The air conditioning also conked out in a 10-story office building in the 6900 block of Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, sending hundreds of workers home. "Most people left because the windows don't open and it's 85 to 90 degrees in the building," said Jeremy Busse, owner of Advanced Building Design, an architecture and general contracting firm. "It's too hot to work," he said, calling the heat wave "ridiculous."

At Waverly House, a senior housing facility in Bethesda that lost its air conditioning over the weekend, about 75 people fled for the second consecutive day to escape the heat. Officials scrambled to install room air conditioners for residents who stayed, and they expected to have those apartments equipped by this afternoon.

For some, the oppressive heat made a trip to the pool unbearable. Kelly Edwards of Leesburg and her children Hannah, 2 1/2 , and Emma, 8 months, instead went to the public library in Ashburn. "It is a little worrisome," she said. "With younger kids, even going to the pool -- it's too hot for them to be out too long, even if they're in the water."

With temperatures straining engines and car batteries as much as drivers, AAA Mid-Atlantic had received about 4,840 calls for service by 5 p.m. yesterday, including 1,163 in Maryland, 1,015 in Virginia and 184 in the District. A typical 24-hour period in the summer usually totals about 5,600 calls. "The two busiest times of the year for us are in extreme heat and extreme cold," said John Townsend, a spokesman for AAA, which includes Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey in its mid-Atlantic region. Batteries, tires, engine belts and hoses -- "anything made of rubber" -- are vulnerable during extreme heat, he said.

Even shopping, usually a reliable escape on the most miserable days, could not alleviate the hot-and-bothered-ness of it all. At Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, customers shuttled quickly through the muggy plaza, eager to reach the air conditioning in the next store. The brief periods spent outdoors were enough to sap shoppers' strength.

Heather Freeman of Dublin, Va., said she and friend were cutting their shopping day short. "We're just about done," Freeman said shortly after 3 p.m., resting on a shaded bench. "The heat kind of drains you. . . . My dogs don't even like to go out. I don't blame them. If I had on a fur coat, I'd want to go back inside, too."

Staff writers Lori Aratani, Michael Alison Chandler, Daniel DeVise, Paul Duggan, Nelson Hernandez, Ian Shapira, Lena H. Sun, Bill Turque and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.