Fresno warming centers open first time this winter amid chilly temperatures
For the first time this winter, the City of Fresno’s warming centers will be open on the evenings of Thursday and Friday this week.
The National Weather Service in Hanford has projected temperatures to drop below 35 degrees, triggering the city to open its three centers from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Friday. They will open again on Friday at 7 p.m. and close on Saturday at 7 a.m.
The warming center locations are:
- Ted C. Wills Community Center; 770 N. San Pablo, 93728
- Mosqueda Community Center; 4670 E. Butler Ave., 93702
- Maxie L. Parks Community Center; 1802 E. California Ave., 93706
The city’s FAX bus system will provide free transportation along normal routes to the facilities during the hours operated as warming centers.
Cots, blankets, and pet cages will be available.
The city has faced criticism in the past for its strict limits on when the warming centers open.
In December, two unhoused individuals died while trying to stay warm in their tent in an encampment along a Fresno Highway. Temperatures dropped to 39 degrees the night they died of carbon monoxide poisoning, based on a preliminary investigation.
City policy directs warming centers to open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when temperatures drop below 35 degrees based on NWS projections, and the city is required to provide a 72-hour notice of when the shelters will open.
When the Central Valley faced a week-long freeze warning in January 2025, over 60 homeless advocates, unhoused people, and residents urged city officials to expand it’s warming center operations through the winter.
Hypothermia can occur at temperatures above 40°F if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or being in cold water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This story was originally published February 18, 2026 at 3:31 PM.