Belen opens cooling stations as dangerous heat continues

Outdoor workers, drivers without reliable air conditioning, and caregivers for children or older adults were the first people Belen had in mind as temperatures stayed dangerously high. The city opened cooling stations at the Belen Fire Department, 121 S. 5th Street, and the Belen Recreation Center, 305 Eagle Lane, giving residents two nearby places to get out of the heat before exhaustion turned into an emergency.

The fire department was open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The recreation center stayed open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. City officials urged residents to use the sites to stay cool and hydrated, especially anyone who may not have access to adequate cooling at home.

Belen also warned residents to limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day, wear light-colored loose-fitting clothing, never leave children or pets in vehicles, and check on elderly family members and neighbors. The message was aimed at the people most likely to feel the heat first: workers on construction sites, agricultural crews, delivery drivers, and households trying to stretch one air conditioner across a long, hot afternoon.

The public-health warning carried added weight because heat can escalate quickly in a city like Belen, where the fire department says it was officially formed on June 13, 1921, under Ordinance Number 28 and now protects about 8 square miles and roughly 7,500 residents. The city pointed anyone who began feeling overheated to seek an air-conditioned space right away and call 911 for emergencies.

Regional heat forecasts underscored the risk. The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque said lower elevations faced a moderate risk of heat-induced illness, with highs in the 90s to low 100s each day, and flagged a localized major heat risk likely on Tuesday and Wednesday when temperatures peaked. The CDC says its Heat and Health Tracker is meant to help communities prepare for and respond to extreme heat events, while warning that urban heat islands, aging populations and increasing urbanization can raise vulnerability. OSHA says millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat on the job each year, and thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure.

The danger was not isolated to Belen. Albuquerque launched Operation Cool Down 2026 with 22 community centers, pools, splash pads and shelters available as triple-digit heat approached. In Valencia County, the practical takeaway was simple: find shade, find water, and find air conditioning before the heat forces a trip to the emergency room.