Rescue crews from Phoenix and Tempe were called into the rugged slopes of South Mountain Park for an active technical mountain rescue, according to the Phoenix Fire Department. Emergency teams remained on scene as they coordinated a careful extraction in the park’s rocky terrain.
Technical rescue crews from Phoenix and Tempe are currently working on a mountain rescue at South Mountain. https://x.com/i/status/2019066914555961360
— Phoenix Fire Dept. (@PHXFire) Feb 4, 2026
What Phoenix Fire Says
In an update posted on X, the Phoenix Fire Department said technical rescue crews from both Phoenix and Tempe were on the mountain for an active operation at South Mountain. The post did not include information on a patient’s condition or the exact trail involved, and officials typically ask hikers to stay clear of the area while these kinds of operations are underway, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.
Why South Mountain Operations Are Complex
South Mountain Park includes more than 100 miles of trails and steep, rocky terrain, conditions that can turn any rescue into a slow, labor-intensive effort. The City of Phoenix expanded its Trail Heat Safety Program to include sections of South Mountain in an effort to reduce heat-related incidents and ease the strain on rescue teams. The city reports that rescues on closed trails have declined year over year, dropping from 57 in 2021 to 47 in 2022, 30 in 2023 and 35 in 2024. More details on the program and its data are available from the City of Phoenix.
How Crews Handle Mountain Rescues
Technical rescue teams rely on specialized gear to move patients out of difficult terrain. That can include one-wheeled “big wheel” stretchers and, when conditions cooperate, aerial hoists to get patients down to waiting ambulances. Local reporting on recent South Mountain incidents describes rescuers using big-wheel stretchers and helicopter extractions during especially difficult recoveries, illustrating how involved these missions can get, as reported by ABC15.
What Hikers Should Know
Officials urge anyone heading into South Mountain Park to obey trail-closure signs, bring plenty of water and let someone know their planned route before they go. For real-time information on trail closures and heat-safety guidance, hikers can check the City of Phoenix.
