PHOENIX — The Phoenix Fire Department reported receiving fewer heat-related calls this past summer though it is not yet clear whether fewer Valley residents died from a heat-related illness.
City officials assembled Thursday to recap the many services provided throughout Phoenix when the city was again experiencing record-breaking heat.
Cooling centers, hydration stations and giant bags of ice were deployed this past summer to keep locals safe from triple-digit temperatures and Mayor Kate Gallego said the city needs help combating the hot weather.
“Though Phoenix stepped up in unprecedented ways this summer to save hundreds of lives, it’s clear we need other levels of government to provide additional resources and support to this cause," the mayor said. "Our summers are only growing hotter and more intense — and it’s past due that we treat heat like the emergency it is.”
The city's fire department reported getting 1,416 heat-related calls, which was a 20% decrease compared to last summer.
More than 35,000 visits were made to the city's respite and cooling centers with extended hours.
Members of Congress and state officials have proposed adding extreme heat to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s list of major disasters, which would make communities like Phoenix potentially eligible for federal assistance during a heat wave.
“Heat deaths are preventable, and I call on our federal partners to understand the urgency of working with Phoenix in establishing best practices and a coordinated response to saving lives," Phoenix Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira said in a statement.
As of Oct. 19, Maricopa County had reported 429 confirmed heat-related deaths for the 2024 season, which is lower than at the same point in time in 2023. But the county has a higher number of deaths still under investigation compared to last year.
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Heat Beat
Here are several videos about Arizona's extreme heat and how you can stay safe during the state's summer months.
