Phoenix Heat Wave Hits 118°F, Strains Fire Crews and Alters High-School Sports

A relentless heat wave pushed Phoenix temperatures to 118°F on 7 Aug., the city’s hottest August reading in 120 years. The National Weather Service said the mark eclipsed the previous August record of 117°F and extended a summer-long spell in which metro Phoenix has logged multiple days at or above 115°F. First-responders are feeling the strain. The Phoenix Fire Department has answered more than 130 heat-related emergency calls since 1 May and has deployed its cold-water immersion treatment over 85 times, according to department data. Crews report a rise in critical cases involving people experiencing homelessness, including incidents of severe dehydration and cardiac arrest. The extreme conditions are also disrupting daily routines. High-school football teams across the Valley are shifting practices to early mornings or evenings, shortening on-field sessions and expanding mandatory water breaks to protect athletes from heat illness. Officials said some programs are considering indoor workouts until temperatures recede.