EPHRATA/OTHELLO — While it may only be 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside of a car can quickly rise to over 100 degrees. As sunny days and warm weather continue throughout the summer, it is important to not leave children and pets inside vehicles.

“Even if you leave the window cracked, temperatures can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes,” said Kyle Foreman, public information officer for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. “We get a lot of sunshine in the Columbia Basin. The sun can magnify through the windows on a car.”

With the risk of catching COVID-19 while in a store, parents have been advised to not bring children into stores. At the same time, it is illegal to leave children in a hot car or alone in a car that is running. Parents are encouraged to seek child care from family and friends to avoid having to take a child into a store or leaving them in a hot car.

“I think we’re probably more focused on our children right now,” Foreman said. “We’re concerned with their health with COVID-19. We need to be aware of the seasonal risks. If you take your kids with you, make sure they get out of the car with you. The same goes for pets as well. If you bring a pet with you, please don’t leave it in a hot car on a hot day.”

Heather Miller, Code Enforcement Officer for the Othello Police Department said that parents should take advantage of curbside pickup if they can not find child care.

Miller said that ordering from online shopping sites is a better option than leaving children or pets in a hot car. There are also groups that will help others by doing their shopping for them. If options have been explored and failed, call the local police department for assistance.

In the last few years, laws have been passed making it against the law for pets to be left in hot cars or confined spaces. This can include an animal being left in a crate in the backyard, if that animal is left in the hot sun or doesn’t have adequate water, or if the crate has a black bottom. While law enforcement prefers to educate people on the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars, if someone continues to leave their animal in a hot car, they could be charged with animal cruelty.

“The RCW has pretty specific verbiage on the person allowed to remove an animal from a hot car,” Miller said.

“If anyone notices a child or pet left in a hot car on a hot day, give us a call so we can help,” Foreman said. “Just make sure you don’t leave kids in the car with the engine running and just don’t leave them in the car. Make arrangements.”

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at [email protected].