Overview
- The National Weather Service forecast a strong ridge and issued Extreme Heat Warnings with expected highs above 110°F, prompting the City of Phoenix to schedule daytime trail closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday while the warning is active.
- On Aug. 16 Phoenix fire crews responded to three separate rescues on Camelback Mountain, including a woman who became severely overheated and had to be hoisted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
- First responders found the woman with a core temperature above 104°F and altered mental status, used cold‑water immersion at the trailhead as emergency treatment, and transported her to a hospital in critical condition.
- City officials urged people to avoid peak heat hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), hydrate, wear breathable clothing, and stay on marked trails so rescuers can reach them quickly, noting that most heat injuries are preventable with timing and precautions.
- The closures aim to reduce rescues and strain on emergency teams during the heat wave; Phoenix officials say more than 200 hikers are rescued from desert and mountain parks each year and steep terrain often requires airlifted evacuations.