On a sweltering Sunday afternoon, a family of eleven found themselves in peril on the Holbert Trail at South Mountain, a path distinctly closed due to extreme heat warnings. Following a distress call, Phoenix Fire Department mobilized a tactical rescue operation. As per FOX 10 Phoenix, the hikers, including five adults and six children – ages notably spanning from the very young to 11 years – succumbed to the oppressive heat around two hours after embarking at 10 a.m. the prior morning on Sunday.
Captain Rob McDade of Phoenix Fire, had stark words regarding the incident. "It's really inexcusable, really, if you're going to put a child's life in that danger," he told FOX 10 Phoenix. The rescue team worked swiftly to cool down the overheated family, using a 'big wheel basket' to transport a nine and an eleven-year-old down the trail. They provided aid that lead the rest of the group to safety, all without reporting any injuries.
Signage afront the trail had been clear about the closure, implemented during extreme heat times between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., a decision ratified on March 27 by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board. According to the report by FOX 10 Phoenix, these measures affect a mere fraction of South Mountain's 100 miles of trails.
In a statement obtained by AZFamily, McDade aired his frustration regarding unnecessary risks taken by hikers and consequent dangers posed to rescue crews. “We’re here to rescue people off the mountains, that’s our job. That will never stop, that’s what we do. But again, the frustration is there because now we’re putting our folks into a position to have to go up there,” he elaborated. While no injuries to the rescue crew were reported, and the family declined further treatment post-rescue, the potential for legal ramifications looms. With Phoenix City Code Chapter 24, Sec. 24-36 granting citation power for entering a closed park, penalties could include fines of $50 or more and community service, though it remains unclear if any citations have been issued to the family as of yet.
Extreme heat warnings prompt the city to close not only the Holbert Trail but several others, including the iconic Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail at Camelback Mountain, and selected trails at Phoenix Mountains and South Mountain Preserves. For comprehensive coverage on these closures and the Phoenix Fire Department's response, readers can refer to the original reporting done by FOX 10 Phoenix and AZFamily.
