Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- Maricopa County has confirmed 113 heat-related deaths so far this year.
- The death toll is being reported alongside an ongoing extreme heat warning with First Alert Days across the Phoenix area.
- Both outlets link the fatalities directly to the current stretch of extreme temperatures rather than treating them as separate news.
Where they differ
- AZFamily provides extensive detail — 584 additional deaths under investigation, demographic breakdowns (48% substance-involved, 31% homeless), and location/indoor-outdoor splits — while FOX 10’s brief video segment does not include these figures.
- AZFamily includes direct quotes from Dr. Nick Staab of the county health department and a full list of official safety recommendations; FOX 10’s coverage is a short video teaser without expanded reporting.
- FOX 10 frames the story around statewide extreme heat conditions broadly, while AZFamily focuses more narrowly on the county health department’s specific data release and guidance.
Maricopa County has confirmed 113 heat-related deaths so far in 2025, with another 584 cases still under investigation as of Aug. 22, according to updated figures released by the county’s Department of Public Health. The toll comes as an Extreme Heat Warning and multiple First Alert Days keep afternoon highs at 110°F or above through Saturday, with little overnight relief and an air quality alert layered on top.
What do the new numbers show?
Of the 113 confirmed deaths, 64 people died from heat exposure alone, with no drugs, alcohol, or other contributing factors involved. Substances were a factor in 48% of the deaths, and 31% of victims were homeless. Most deaths happened outdoors — 69% — versus 31% indoors, and central Phoenix accounted for the largest share of cases. The gap between the 113 confirmed deaths and the 584 still under investigation suggests the final count for the year could rise substantially once those cases are resolved.
Who is most at risk?
County health officials say older adults, people with underlying medical conditions, those living in mobile homes, people experiencing homelessness, and drug users — particularly methamphetamine users — face the highest risk. But Dr. Nick Staab, chief medical officer for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, stressed that heat illness and death can strike anyone regardless of age, fitness, or how long they’ve lived in Arizona. He noted deaths occur both on days with heat warnings and without them, meaning the danger doesn’t ease up just because there’s no active alert.
What is the county telling people to do?
Officials are urging residents to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, and avoid outdoor activity during peak afternoon heat. For anyone who must be outside, they recommend frequent breaks in shade or air conditioning. Indoors, air conditioning is considered essential once temperatures top 90°F, since officials say fans alone can’t keep people safe once it’s above 95°F outside. The county is also asking people to check on older neighbors or those living alone to make sure their air conditioning is working, to avoid closed hiking trails during heat warnings, and to never leave children, pets, or dependents in parked cars. Anyone needing a place to cool off can dial 211 or use the Maricopa Association of Governments’ online map to find a Heat Relief Network location.
Why does the timing matter?
The update lands in the middle of a stretch of extreme conditions: an Extreme Heat Warning and First Alert Days are in effect through Saturday, with afternoon highs staying at or above 110°F and morning lows only dropping into the low 90s. A separate air quality alert tied to high ozone levels is in effect through Wednesday, compounding the risk for people spending time outdoors. Staab emphasized that every heat death is preventable, and that fatigue with the length of the summer shouldn’t lead people to let their guard down on basic precautions.
How is this being covered?
AZFamily provided the bulk of the reporting, laying out the county’s breakdown of confirmed versus suspected deaths, the demographic and location patterns, and the specific safety guidance from health officials. FOX 10 Phoenix covered the same 113-death figure in a brief video segment without the detailed breakdown, framing it around the ongoing extreme heat warning across Arizona. Both outlets tie the death toll directly to the current heat wave rather than treating it as a standalone statistic.
Sources
Featured photo: Lightandtruth via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)