Heat-Related Deaths Drop In Phoenix For Second Straight Year, City Says

PHOENIX, AZ — As triple-digit temperatures grip the Valley, Phoenix's downtown heat-respite center got a high-profile visitor this week: Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego.

Gallego toured the 24/7 facility and met with staff to learn about the services it offers residents in need of relief.

The center at 20 W. Jackson St. operates around the clock, offering cooling space, water, navigation services and connections to shelter and other resources.

It's one piece of a much larger network, more than 60 cooling centers and hydration stations across the region, open through Sept. 30. Anyone needing a ride to a cooling location can call 2-1-1 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Two extended-hours cooling centers round out the city's downtown response. Justa Center, at 1001 W. Jackson St., is open daily from 3 to 9 p.m., and Cholla Library, at 10050 Metro Parkway E., is open until 9 p.m. most days.

Both downtown sites sit in areas the city says have seen increased 911 calls tied to heat, and both offer navigation services to connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and other support.

The visit comes as the city reports real progress on a deadly problem. Confirmed heat-related deaths in Maricopa County last summer were about 30% lower than in 2024, and the city said the severity of heat-related illnesses also declined. While 911 calls related to heat remained high, fewer cases required intensive interventions like ice water immersion or hospital transport.

"Our heat leadership team is encouraged to see a second year of reductions in heat-related deaths and severe illnesses," said David Hondula, director of Phoenix's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. "We remain committed to a data-driven, hyper-collaborative approach that engages the full suite of city departments and many community partners to push for even further reductions in 2026."

The city is also putting $450,000 in FEMA grant funding toward training public-facing city employees to better connect residents with heat-related resources. Phoenix will also partner with UMOM New Day Centers on a referral basis to support families with minor children experiencing homelessness who visit the city's extended-hour or 24-hour heat-relief sites.

More information on Phoenix's heat-relief network is available at Phoenix.gov/summer.