El Paso Fire warns of pets and children locked in hot cars

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Heat can become less of a hassle and more of a threat when temperatures surpass 104.

The Borderland has grown accustomed to seeing temperatures over the 100s with temperatures all expected to exceed 105 for the remainder of the week.

The temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for anyone inside.

According to the National Weather Service, the temperature inside a car can reach 100 degrees F in just 25 minutes when the outside temperature is only 73 F. A dark dashboard or seat can reach temperatures in the range of 180 degrees to over 200 degrees F.

El Paso Fire warns that leaving a window cracked does not significantly slow the heating process of a car.

As a safety precaution, El Paso Fire tells drivers to understand the dangers of a hot vehicle.

While all age ranges can fall victim to the heat, those often found locked inside hot cars are children and pets.

According to the United States Department of Transportation over the past 25 years, more than 950 children have died of heatstroke because they were left inside a hot car. Last year alone 33 children died after being left in hot cars.

A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's.