This week’s record-high temperatures reminded one Auburn woman of her home in Dominica, an island in the Caribbean.

“The water is much warmer in our lands,” Lucia Savaria said, dipping her feet in the cool Cedar River outside the Renton Community Center.

People flocked to the lakes and rivers to find relief, as this week’s heat wave brought record-high temperatures into the 100s.

“It just sucks that I got to go to work this afternoon,” said Tukwila’s Eric Saunoa, who took a group of kids to Cedar River to cool off and relax.

The river was shallow enough to sit in a folding chair and have the water flow just above the waist.

“I like floating down,” said 9-year-old Malik Motley.

The temperature peaked Wednesday at 105, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) readings from the Renton Municipal Airport.

Meteorologists are expecting the hot weather to continue through the weekend, though there is a chance the high will dip below 90 Saturday, according to NOAA.

The daily lows read more like highs with temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s.

“That prevents the body from cooling off at night,” said NOAA meteorologist Johnny Burg.

Renton firefighters had about 15 heat-related calls within the first three days of the week.

“An awful many of them have to do with dehydration. That seems to be our biggest issue,” said Renton’s deputy fire chief, Bill Flora.

Though chances of fires breaking out are much higher with hot and dry weather, no major fires have been reported, he said.

Renton emergency services crews have been visiting local nursing homes and adult day cares to make sure they have plans in place to keep their residents cool during the heat wave. Those checks will continue.

Castle Ice, Renton’s ice skating rink, offered free admission Tuesday and Wednesday to help people cool off.

Nearby resident Tamara Baldauf decided to skate after hearing about free admission on the radio.

“My alternative plan was to stain my deck,” she said, putting her hands in her sweater.

The air was so hot outside that when it mixed with the building’s 58-degree air, the water condensed and drizzled on the rink like rain.

It’s common for the Seattle area to have heat waves in the summer, but they usually only last a couple days, Burg said.

In addition to the heat warning, there is also an air-stagnation advisory in affect until Friday at 6 p.m.

“There’s no wind to take away our daily pollution,” said Amy Warren, a communications specialist with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The sky in Renton took a brown hue, as the heat worsened the air pollution.

“The heat is building up an inversion, which is keeping the pollution at ground level,” Warren said.

Those with heart and lung problems and small children are advised to spend as little time as possible outside during stagnation warnings.

“Even healthy people may experience shortness of breath and dryness of eyes,” she said.