Challenges of Extreme Heat in Phoenix
Payton Preslee has faced homelessness since 2010 and deals with various health issues, notably dizziness, which makes the intense summer heat in Phoenix particularly challenging for him. The high temperatures only exacerbate his symptoms.
“My dizziness doesn’t like it,” Preslee noted.
This summer, to escape the extreme heat, he spent nearly every day at a city-operated cooling center located in a downtown warehouse.
“The staff are friendly, and so is everyone here,” he shared.
Preslee mentioned that using a wheelchair complicates his quest for suitable homeless shelters.
“Sometimes, I find a safe place to stay and sleep for the night,” he added.
Cooling Centers and Heat Relief
The 24-hour heat relief sites will close on September 30th, just as one of Phoenix’s hottest summers on record comes to an end. However, Maricopa County officials report a decline in heat-related deaths this year compared to previous years. They hope that the impact of cooling centers and other heat mitigation measures might be changing this trend.
“We don’t want to look back,” said David Hondulla, who oversees Phoenix’s Thermal Response and Mitigation Bureau.
Though those experiencing homelessness like Preslee make up less than 0.3% of Maricopa County’s population, they’ve accounted for roughly half of the heat-related deaths in recent years. Thus, the establishment of 24-hour heat relief sites has become a key element in addressing the extreme heat crisis. The demand for these cooling centers has skyrocketed, as many shelters have reached their limits. Since their opening in May, the 24-hour heat relief site and some libraries in Phoenix have recorded over 38,000 visits.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that this operation has positively impacted thousands of lives, keeping people out of hospitals and preventing deaths,” Hondulla stated.
From 2016 to 2023, each summer broke new records for heat-related fatalities in Maricopa County. But in 2024, for the first time with access to a 24-hour heat relief site, the county reported a slight decrease in hot deaths compared to previous years.
Currently, 156 heat-related deaths have been confirmed, with an additional 370 still under investigation. While this figure indicates progress—it’s about 20% lower than last year—challenges remain, as highlighted by Dr. Jeff Johnston, the chief medical examiner in Maricopa County.
“It feels like a typical summer for us. It’s busy, but compared to the last three years, it’s not extreme,” Johnston remarked.
Emergency Response Innovations
Changes have also been made in how the Phoenix Fire Department handles heat-related emergencies. Now, if a patient presents a temperature exceeding 104 degrees accompanied by mental state changes, they are placed in a watertight bag filled with ice during transport to the hospital.
“It’s truly a lifesaving measure,” said Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller. “We employ it for individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as for hikers overheating in the mountains.”
Since adopting this approach last year, the fire department has utilized this method in over 450 rescues, and some local emergency rooms have begun similar treatments.
Keller noted that ice immersion bags cool patients far more effectively than traditional methods.
“We’ve seen significant success in preventing brain damage and organ failure,” he added.
Johnston acknowledged that while it’s hard to pinpoint the effectiveness of these fire department protocols and the cooling centers, recent state and local policies might also play a role. For instance, regulations allowing RV park residents to install air conditioning without needing landlord approval and new protections for outdoor workers reflect a broader awareness of heat risks.
“It’s complicated to measure all of this, but we have solid reasons to believe our strategies are working,” Johnston suggested.
Maricopa County plans to release its final report on heat-related deaths early next year, but despite the reductions, issues still persist. Homelessness continues to rise in the valley, and shelter beds are dwindling due to lost federal funding, leaving more individuals vulnerable.
“Public health officials are certainly worried about the implications of losing shelter beds and resources,” Hondulla remarked.
Moreover, many of the heat relief budgets for both the city and other areas have relied heavily on federal pandemic aid, which is expected to run out in 2026.
“Maintaining support for these programs is critical,” Hondulla emphasized. “All levels of government need to be involved in this effort.” He reiterated that the dangers associated with extreme heat are still very real.
