Hikers rescued from heat distress on Camelback, North Mountain

Rescue crews were dispatched throughout the Phoenix area for hikers in distress due to heat-related issues Saturday morning.

BY TOM KUEBEL

Sep 5, 2020, 11:58 AM Updated: 12:31 pm

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(Photo courtesy of Phoenix Fire Department)

PHOENIX — Rescue crews were dispatched throughout the Phoenix area for hikers in distress due to heat-related issues Saturday morning.

Multiple rescues took place on Camelback Mountain as crews first responded to a 30-year-old woman in distress due to the heat.

The hiker was halfway up the mountain on the Echo Canyon Trail side when crews made initial contact with her.

She was then wheeled down the mountain and taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

After rescuers cleared the area, a second rescue attempt was issued involving multiple hikers.

Crews requested to fly at least one patient off the mountain.

Crews were able to extricate an adult hiker off Camelback Mountain utilizing Firebird 10. The adult hiker was experiencing heat related issues. Once at the bottom the patient refused transportation to the hospital. All crews are safely off the mountain. pic.twitter.com/uNHfRi5P92

— Phoenix Fire Dept. (@PHXFire) September 5, 2020

No further information was given regarding the second rescue.

Earlier in the day, crews were able to drive a hiker in distress from North Mountain. The hiker made contact with a park ranger from the top of the mountain by the cell towers and was transported safely by the rangers in a vehicle.

Temperatures as high as 108 degrees were reported in the area as of 11:30 a.m. and expected to reach as high as 111 during the day, causing significant risks to hikers.

On Friday, Phoenix broke a daily heat record by hitting 114 degrees at Sky Harbor International Airport.

Phoenix could set a new record high temperature for Labor Day. The record high is 112 degrees, while forecasts project a 111 degree day on Monday.