Last year it was from Phoenix. Hottest Year on Record. Nevertheless, fewer people have died as a result of fever in Maricopa County than in 2023. According to a new report from Maricopa County Public Health,.

It is the first time in more than a decade that the county has seen a year-on-year decline in heat-related deaths.

“It’s not time for a victory lap,” said David Hondulla, director of Phoenix’s Thermal Response and Mitigation Bureau. He told KJzz News last fallplease refer to the backup number. “There are positive signs in the numbers compared to last year, but there’s a long way to go to see the really big cuts that everyone is looking for.”

Over the past decade, fever-related deaths have skyrocketed in Maricopa County. In 2014, the county reported 61 deaths from fever. Last year, the county confirmed 602 fever deaths. The dramatic increase in death correlates with temperature and rapid temperature Growth of the local homeless population.

Most of the county’s fever deaths last year occurred outdoors, with 50% of fever deaths among people experiencing homelessness. This is a higher percentage than in 2023.

The 602 confirmed heat in 2024 made the death toll the second highest on record last year. The county has officially recorded deaths since 2006.

However, according to Hondura, the slight decline from 645 in 2023 could be a sign that investment in heat mitigation and new strategies to protect vulnerable people from heat are beginning to have a positive impact.

“We are once again encouraged to reverse this trend, but we still have a lot to do because we believe all of this is preventable,” said Dr. Nick Stubb, chief medical officer of the Health Board.

A major change in urban approach to eagerly alleviating relief last summer It was to be extended Leave the other two centres open overnight at three public cooling centres. The city reports these five sites Over 35,000 visits From May to October. Over 900 visitors to the site were referred to treatment or shelter. Additionally, heat-related emergency calls to the Phoenix Fire Station fell 20% in 2024 compared to 2023. Only about 15% of these emergency calls came from within a mile radius of the heat mitigation site during extended business hours. The city reports.

Maricopa County made new investments in heat relief in 2024. The county paid to increase the number of operators who could protect heat-related questions about Arizona’s 211 helpline. The county also allocated federal funds to payments for transportation services to acquire those who called 211 vehicles to the cooling center. The county hired its first full-time county-wide cooling center coordinator.

However, the majority of the heat relief budget for most city and county in 2024 was compiled from the Federal Government’s Pandemic Relief Fund from the 2026 American Rescue Plan Act.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego warned That life-saving heat programme will require a more stable source of funding to continue the future years.

“We cannot continue to tackle this public health emergency without increasing support from local government neighbours from county, state and federal leaders,” Gallego told reporters in October.

Gallego said the homeless population in Phoenix increased as temperatures increased.

“We’re asked to do more, but we’re less resources,” Gallego said. “This is an emergency.”

KJZZ reporter Camryn Sanchez contributed to this report.