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Maricopa County details 2025 heat toll and expands 2026 relief plan
Summary
County public health told supervisors that 2025 saw 427 confirmed heat-related deaths (one pending investigation) and outlined a 2026 response centered on 24 ARPA-funded sites, expanded respite centers for families, Narcan at cooling sites paid with opioid-settlement dollars, and continued 211/Lyft transport support.
Maricopa County Public Health presented the Board of Supervisors with its 2025 heat-season findings and a 2026 heat-response plan on March 23, telling the board the county recorded 427 confirmed heat-related deaths with one investigation pending.
The presentation, led by Jeanine Fowler, executive director for public health, and Dr. Nick Staab, the county’s chief medical officer, emphasized that elevated overnight lows were a major risk factor for heat fatalities and that vulnerable groups—people experiencing homelessness and people using substances—accounted for a disproportionate share of fatalities. "There are a total of 427 confirmed with one investigation pending," Staab said, and staff noted the figure is preliminary pending final analysis.
Why it matters: County officials said many deaths result from cumulative heat exposure because people without cooled indoor space cannot…
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