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Heat deaths total to 25 this year in Maricopa County so far

Another seven deaths due to heat have been confirmed by Maricopa County health officials this week. 

That brings the total to 25 so far this year. 

There are now 249 deaths under investigation, up from 69 in last week’s county report. 

Those numbers are still behind the rates seen in the same time last year. 

Many people are looking forward to the slightest bit of rain from monsoon storms. 

However, Maricopa County Department of Public Health spokesperson Sonia Singh says those storms can also lead to power failure.

“Everybody needs to know how to find a cooling station or a heat relief center. If you have family, friends or neighbors who might need a ride over to some place if power is knocked out, things like that. We all need to plan and we all need to look out for each other," Singh said. 

Singh added that while the extreme heat is making headlines, the county sees more deaths when there are no heat warnings in effect.

Greg Hahne started as a news intern at KJZZ in 2020 and returned as a field correspondent in 2021. He learned his love for radio by joining Arizona State University's Blaze Radio, where he worked on the production team.