title: “Maricopa County heat deaths up 97% over last year” url: “https://www.azfamily.com/2026/09/09/maricopa-county-heat-deaths-up-97-over-last-year/” author: “Steven Sarabia”

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Maricopa County health officials have confirmed 150 heat-related deaths this year, a 97% increase from the 76 recorded at this point last year. Officials say hundreds of additional cases are still under investigation.

An extreme heat warning is in effect through Thursday.

Dr. Patrick Godwin, emergency department medical director at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler, said the rising numbers are troubling.

“When I see that number go up and when I see it vary month to month, it does cause a lot of concern,” Dr. Godwin said.

Dr. Godwin said he worries the death toll has not yet reached its cap for the year.

“We live in a vulnerable environment, especially for the people that have already built in vulnerabilities,” Dr. Godwin said.

In Yuma, health officials report 26 heat-related deaths so far this year. That is more than the total of 19 deaths recorded there all of last year. Firefighters in Yuma say they are responding to call after call for the heat.

In Maricopa County, nearly half of the people who died from the heat also had drugs or alcohol in their system. Dr. Godwin said recreational drugs, prescription medications and illegal substances can all make heat more dangerous for the body.

“When people take a stimulant, their heart rate goes up, their blood pressure goes up, their temperature goes up,” Dr. Godwin said. “When you put someone like that in 110 degrees, there is very little buffer for them to become extremely ill. Also, the substance that they’re on usually takes away the part of the reason of the brain that says, I’m in a hot situation.”

Dr. Godwin said people on prescription medication should ask their doctor how long they should be outside in the heat based on what they are taking. He said people need to build in time every day to cool their bodies down.

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