Maricopa County officials have confirmed five heat-related deaths so far this year and are investigating 165 more. Those numbers are about 37% higher than they were at the same point last year, in spite of cooler temperatures.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health reports four of the five confirmed deaths involved substance use and two deaths were among unhoused people. All five deaths occurred outdoors.
Mark Lebario does street outreach with the Phoenix Rescue Mission. He said he sees firsthand how the Valley’s homeless population struggles in the summer…