BLUE ASH, Ohio -- Celebrating Independence Day in Greater Cincinnati’s dangerously hot weather meant putting comfort on the back burner. At Red, White and Blue Ash, which Fire Chief Chris Theders estimated drew 100,000 people, the lines for bathrooms and food were outdone only by those for coolers and hoses.
"It’s probably the hottest one I’ve been to in a long time,” Matt Gesner, who attended with wife, Logan, and children, said.
Theders said firefighters, EMTs and police set up more cooling stations than they had in previous years to compensate for the temperatures, which hovered around 100 degrees during the hottest part of the day.
It was worth it, Logan Gesner said, for the chance to introduce her children to the annual tradition.
"Even though it's hot out, we're willing to sacrifice that for some family memories," she said.