Multiple mountain rescues have taken place in the past few days throughout the state. In one instance heat overcome a hiker, while another was killed by lightning strike.
But in fiscal year 2015-2016, Yavapai County had the most search and rescue operations in the state according to the Arizona Division of Emergency Management.
Dwight D’Evelyn with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said there is no particular location in the county with more rescues. But he said there are specific destinations responders do travel to more often.
“We are a very busy are because we have beautiful places to hike: Sedona, Village of Oak Creek, Fossil Creek, Camp Verde, Granite Mountain. So we stay fairly busy,” he said.
D’Evelyln also said the high amount of search and rescues can be contributed to the high tourist traffic in the area. He said the majority of calls they receive are from people who have wandered too far from marked trails and paths.
