12 March 27th-april 2nd, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Deceptive Dip? Phoenix pats own back after 2nd-most heat deaths in history. BY TJ L’HEUREUX M ore than 600 people died of heat-related illnesses in Maricopa County last year, the second-highest total in history. For that, the city of Phoenix has been taking a victory lap. On March 10, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health released preliminary data chronicling heat-related deaths and illnesses for 2024. The headline — as framed by the county, city and several media reports — was a positive one. For the first time in more than a decade, the number of people who died from the Valley’s unforgiving heat decreased year over year. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a small step, of course, but largely unhighlighted was how small that step was. The county health department reported 602 heat deaths from 2024, with another eight still under investigation. That means, at best, heat deaths dropped by 5.4% since 2023, when 645 people died. That grisly death toll represented a jump of 52% over 2022. In Phoenix, that dip was cause for cele- bration and back-patting. The city had geared up to combat the heat in 2024, opening more cooling centers and expanding their hours. As a result, city offi- cials asserted, they had successfully bent the curve in the other direction, as slight as the downward arc may appear. “No deaths are acceptable, and we’ll continue to work to ensure our most vulnerable residents, including those expe- riencing homelessness, have shelter and heat relief options during our extreme summer heat,” Mayor Kate Gallego said in a press release. “But these numbers show that we’re having an impact, we’re making a difference, and we’re saving lives.” Phoenix city councilmembers echoed her optimism. Debra Stark said the city’s heat mitigation initiatives saved lives. “I hope this is the beginning of a downward trend of heat-related fatalities,” she said. Councilmember Carlos Galindo-Elvira said the dip in deaths “is a direct result of Phoenix’s investment in resources for the unhoused.” Ann O’Brien, the vice mayor, tossed plaudits at Gallego. “Through successful policymaking and with thanks to Mayor Gallego’s leadership, we were able to see a significant reduction in heat-related deaths,” O’Brien said. With more than 600 deaths, your defini- tion of “significant” may vary. Cooling centers There’s no denying that Phoenix made a concerted effort to address the heat last summer. The shocking spike in deaths in 2023 — the result of soaring evictions, increased homelessness and 31 straight days with temperatures reaching 110 degrees — caught Phoenix off guard. In a press release, Gallego’s office said the city spent about $3 million on summer heat relief services last year. Much of that went toward expanding the hours of the five Phoenix-set cooling centers, where people can escape the heat. In previous years, the cooling centers closed at 5 or 6 p.m., which is often the hottest part of the day. Last year, they closed at 10 p.m. Two libraries also served as overnight shelters, each with space for 50 people. Phoenix was the only city to offer overnight shelters. In total, the city said it logged more than 28,000 visits at its cooling centers. “With a coordinated countywide strategy, nearly every one of these Maricopa County saw 602 heat deaths in 2024, the second-highet total ever. The 2023 summer was the deadliest, with 645 heat deaths. (illustration by Emma Randall; Brandon Bell/Getty Images) >> p 14 | NEWS |
