As local temperatures are expected to stay in the 90s for the rest of the week, Kitsap County is looking to provide “cool off” stations where people who have no access to air condition can ride out the heat.

On Monday night, the county commissioners authorized use of two county facilities, Givens Center in Port Orchard and the Eagle’s Nest at the fairgrounds, as cooling stations.

However, the county has not been able to line up enough volunteers to maintain these facilities, and has instead suggested that heat sufferers visit local shopping malls or take shelter in the lobby of the county administration building in Port Orchard.

Department of Emergency Management Director Phyllis Mann said there have been no heat-related health crises so far, nor were any expected. She said her agency is monitoring 211 and 911 calls, with the purpose of protecting the most vulnerable segment of the population–the elderly and the homeless.

“There are many places in the county that you can go to cool off,” she said. “The libraries are welcoming people. It’s a great place to go, because there is always something to read.”

Mann also suggested another homespun remedy for heat sufferers: Put your feet in a bucket of cold water.

As of Tuesday morning, Kitsap County Personnel Director Bert Furuta was scrambling to recruit volunteers through various local agencies. He said the county was not issuing a public call for volunteers due to liability issues.

In the meantime, the Department of Emergency management made the following recommendations during the heat spell:

* Go to the library. All local libraries are air conditioned aside from Bremerton, which is closed due to the heat.

* Go to the mall.

* In the northern part of the county, the Poulsbo Fire Dept has opened its building at 911 Liberty in Poulsbo to the public.

Mann said she expected the heat wave would subside by the end of the week.

“We are monitoring the situation,” she said. “There isn’t much more that we can do.”