The Phoenix Fire Department has performed 133 mountain rescues this year, compared to 153 in all of last year.
While the excessive heat poses a risk to hikers, Troy Caskey of the Phoenix Fire Department said the people performing the rescues are also put in danger.
“There’s always an inherent risk with if the person’s off the trail, or are they on the trail, and what the nature of the injuries are," Caskey said. "And it takes a great number of resources to actually perform a rescue depending on the circumstance.”
Caskey urges hikers to pay attention to their bodies and take precautionary measures before going out in the excessive heat.
Of the 133 mountain rescues, two have resulted in deaths.
