Fresno firefighters rescued a 2-year-old child who was accidentally locked inside a running car Tuesday evening outside Herndon Avenue KinderCare, officials said.

Crews used a lock-out kit to safely open the vehicle. The engine was running and the air conditioning was on when first responders arrived.

Emergency medical services were canceled and no injuries were reported.

Tuesday’s high was 103 degrees and the National Weather Service had a Heat Advisory in effect.

Your Car Can Become an Oven

While the situation ended safely, officials warned of the dangers of leaving loved ones and pets in cars — especially during Fresno’s triple-digit summer heat.

“With rising summer temperatures, the Fresno Fire Department urges the community to never leave children or animals in parked vehicles, even for a few minutes,” Joshua Sellers, the department’s public information officer, told GV Wire.

“Temperatures inside the vehicle can quickly increase, leading to heatstroke or other serious injuries including death. Cracked windows and/or shade do not provide sufficient protection from the heat.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even on an 80-degree day, a vehicle’s interior can reach 109 degrees within minutes and climb to 118 degrees after 40 minutes, CBS reports. Leaving windows open offers little protection, as temperatures inside can rise almost 20 degrees in the first 10 minutes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 39 children died of heatstroke in 2024, a 35% increase from the previous year.

The agency says heatstroke can begin when a person’s core body temperature hits 104 degrees and becomes fatal at 107 degrees.

Children’s body temperatures rise three to five times faster than those of adults.

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Heat Risks for Pets, Elderly Also

The same risk extends to pets and older adults.

The CDC warns never to leave pets in parked cars — even in cooler temperatures — as vehicles can heat up quickly to dangerous levels.

People 65 and older are also more prone to heat-related health issues.

The CDC says older adults may not adjust as well to sudden temperature changes and are more likely to have chronic medical conditions or take medications that affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature and sweat.

To reduce the risk of heat-related illness, the CDC recommends staying in air-conditioned buildings, such as city cooling centers, wearing lightweight clothing, drinking more water than usual, avoiding use of the stove or oven, and not relying on a fan as the main cooling source.

Officials also urge residents to check on friends and neighbors who may be vulnerable during heatwaves.

The CDCHeatRisk Dashboard offers a forecast-based risk rating along with safety recommendations based on local temperatures.

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