Maricopa County has confirmed the first heat-related deaths of this year.
At least four people in the Valley have died as a result of heat in 2023. One died in January from heat-related injuries sustained last summer. The other three deaths occurred in April. 16 other deaths are under investigation. That’s a slight increase compared to the same time period last year, when one death had been confirmed and 12 were under investigation.
Heat deaths in Maricopa County have skyrocketed in recent years. A decade ago, the county reported 75 heat deaths. Last year, a record 425 people died.
County officials say the increase in the unsheltered homeless population in the region is putting more people at risk. Maricopa County has spent more on heat mitigation going into this summer than it ever has before.
