Local firefighters say they are seeing more heat-related hiker rescues and calls this summer as triple-digit heat continues across Southern Arizona.
Southern Arizona heat driving spike in heat-related calls.
Local firefighters say they are seeing more heat-related hiker rescues and calls this summer as triple-digit heat continues across Southern Arizona.
In the last month, Rural Metro Fire says they responded to 10 hiker rescues with the Pima County Sheriff's Office in the north county.
Out of those 10, eight of them were heat-related, Assistant Fire Chief Jay Karlik said.
Tucson Fire says it has already responded to more heat-related illness calls this month than it did during the entire month of June.
Since the beginning of June we've had over 120 heat related illness, 37 in June, 47 in July, and right now August we're only halfway through the month and we've already passed June with 39 heat related illnesses and these numbers are only going to go up when we're having these unseasonably high weather, Tucson Fire Captain Mark Cromey said.
We're topping 105, 106 and not cooling off much in the evening either.
Tucson Fire says those calls involve outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness, people trapped in vehicles, and hikers.
Both fire departments say when a call comes in, crews have to assess the situation and determine what resources and tools are needed.
The Tucson Fire Department says they have a drone that can be used to deliver water or supplies to hikers in need, before rescue crews even reach them.