WASHINGTON—
While many of us are working in air-conditioned spaces and staying cool during this heatwave, there are some jobs where you can’t escape the heat.
People working at Jessie Taylor’s Seafood in Southwest D.C.’s historic Municipal Fish Market are no strangers to the heat.
The market is the nation’s longest continuously operating open-air fish market, dating back to 1805, according to the Wharf’s website.
It’s an outdoor job that’s subject to extreme temperatures year-round. They still operate when the Washington Channel and nearby Potomac and Anacostia rivers are frozen over.
Johnson Checker told DC News Now he’s been working at the market since he was 15, and it’s getting hotter each season.
“It’s most definitely getting hotter. It’s undeniable. I think you’ve got to be living in a box not to see it. All I can say is stay hydrated. This is crazy out here,” emphasized Checker.
“I drink a lot of water. I drink 10 to 12 bottles of water a day, working out here every day,” said Greg Evans, who’s worked at the market for 35 years.
Evans told DC News Now that weekends are busiest, but even during the week, they may sell hundreds of crabs on a given day, and even the heat can’t keep customers away from the waterfront.
“I see people out here walking and running, jogging all day long. I’m like, ‘how are you all doing it?’ I’ve already seen like two people pass out, out here,” described Checker.
Another note from workers at the market: be kind, be nice to others, and to people working outside, even though you might be hot and uncomfortable.
