Overview
- Health officials in Maricopa County confirmed Friday the first heat-related death of 2026 and identified the victim as an older man.
- The health department urged residents to check on people at higher risk, including older adults, children, and those with heart, kidney, or diabetes conditions.
- Phoenix saw a March hot spell with multiple days topping 100 degrees, highlighting earlier seasonal heat risk.
- To prevent more deaths, the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network will launch May 1 with Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe to extend cooling-center hours and access.
- County records show 427 heat-related deaths in 2025, down from 608 in 2024 and 645 in 2023, which officials hope to keep trending lower.