William Duncan, owner of Duncan Concrete Construction, cools down with a hose while he sprays the concrete at a home on Wayne Street in Butler on Friday, July 28. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

Like much of the United States, Butler County is grappling with the hottest temperatures of the year this week, and residents are doing what they can to keep cool and cope with the conditions.

For some, this is easier said than done. This is especially true for those whose jobs require them to spend hours outdoors on days like Friday when the heat index topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the county, including Karns City and Valencia, according to Shannon Heffran, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office.

Those who work in outdoor manual labor, like Lyndora-based roofing company Gill Construction, don’t have the option of simply turning up the air conditioner. They, along with road crews, landscapers, farmers and countless others, have to cope the best way they can.

“We try to start early so we can get out of there before it gets too hot,” said Tom Gill, president of Gill Construction. “The hottest part of the day is probably around 2. We try to clean up and get out of there by then.”

Roofing is an especially “hot” career during the summer, as heat from the sun can reflect from the roof tiles onto the people laying them down. This effect is more intense depending on the color and material of the tiles, with darker tiles reflecting more heat.

“If it gets too hot, we’ll call it a day,” Gill said. “There’s no point in cooking ourselves.”