Dog Day Afternoons: Summer's Toughest Jobs

The heat waves struck early this year. Last week's record-high temperatures melted tar, cleared downtown streets, and wilted starched shirt collars. With the exception of a couple rainy days this week, weather services predicted that the high-noon haze is here to stay.

While you, dear reader, are likely reading this within the cool confines of office air conditioning, others are working not merely outdoors, but in front of ovens, atop blazing asphalt, or inside burning houses.

Here is the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch's list of some of the hardest jobs during the summer – plus one that lets workers stay cool, no matter the temperature outdoors.

If you think your job is as tough or tougher than those listed here, comment below or email your pictures. We'll add them to the article. 

Rachel Stern and Vadim Rud contributed reporting.