PHOENIX, AZ – The number of heat-related deaths in Maricopa County fell in 2024 for the first time in a decade, according to a preliminary report from the county’s Department of Public Health.
The report confirms 602 heat-related deaths last year, down from a record 645 deaths in 2023. An additional eight cases remain under investigation.
This decline is especially significant given that 2024 was the hottest summer in Phoenix’s recorded history.
Phoenix Mayor Applauds Heat Relief Efforts
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego emphasized the city’s investment in heat mitigation programs and said the decrease in deaths reflects the positive impact of those efforts.
In 2024, Phoenix:
- Opened a 24-hour heat respite site
- Allocated $3 million for summer heat relief and services
“No deaths are acceptable, and we’ll continue working to ensure our most vulnerable residents have shelter and heat relief options during extreme summer heat,” Gallego said in a Monday news release. “But these numbers show that we’re having an impact, we’re making a difference, and we’re saving lives.”
While the decline in deaths is encouraging, officials stress the need for continued investment in heat relief initiatives as climate conditions worsen.
