ABC15 is tracking worrying heat death numbers as temperatures approach

PHOENIX – New heat numbers released Tuesday show Maricopa County could see another record summer when it comes to heat deaths. ABC15 has been tracking the county's dashboard, which shows hundreds of heat-confirmed deaths, but county officials said it is too early to compare this season's tragic totals to 2023.

“It’s not a small problem,” said distinguished professor and climate researcher Dr. Joellen Russell.

The summer of 2024 was full of heat records.

“We know that any heat-related illness or death is, in our eyes, preventable,” said Dr. Eugene Livar during an interview with ABC15 in August.

Dr. Livar is Arizona's first chief heat officer, taking up the position in 2024. Maricopa County and the city of Phoenix also made adjustments in 2023 after a deadly summer. These changes included the opening of night rest centers.

“All of Arizona [is] “We work together,” Russell said. “We're trying to open more cooling centers. We're trying to do more socializing and accommodate more people.”

ABC15 has been tracking the dashboard used in Maricopa County throughout the summer. New figures released on Tuesday show that the number of confirmed heat deaths is currently lower than last year, but the number of deaths under investigation is higher.

“We agree that we want to save lives and prevent these heat deaths from happening,” Russell said. “The problem is that even if we increase our efforts, the heat is still increasing.”

Our team also reached out to Maricopa County, which said it is too early to predict how this season will compare to 2023. They also said the number of heat-related deaths being investigated was the maximum possible number. They said last year: “Approximately 75% of deaths investigated were confirmed to be heat-related.”

Staff also said that as they look to future efforts, they will evaluate this year's results and use them to inform their efforts for 2025 and beyond.

“I think it’s incredibly important that the federal government takes this threat really seriously,” Russell said. “Federal Emergency Management, FEMA, should treat heat waves like a natural disaster.”

Last July, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes again called on FEMA to recognize extreme heat as acceptable for major disaster declarations.

“You know, we remit our taxes every year,” Russell said. “Shouldn't you help Arizona too?”

Many heat relief centers ceased services at the end of September, but some remain open until October.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego will host a press event on heat data and response Thursday morning.