Family of 11, including 6 children, rescued while hiking in extreme heat

PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) —A family has been rescued after experiencing heat-related symptoms and exhaustion while hiking on a closed South Mountain trail over the weekend.

According to the Phoenix Fire Department, crews were called to the Holbert Trail at South Mountain on Sunday after a family of five adults and six children, mostly between the ages of 5 and 11, could not continue their hike.

First responders said the family started their hike around 10 a.m., and just before noon, multiple children started complaining of heat and exhaustion.

A tactical rescue crew arrived at the scene and made their way up the Holbert Trail, found the hikers and immediately began cooling them down. Two kids, ages 9 and 11, were put into the Big Wheel basket and brought back to the base of the mountain. The rescuers assisted the rest of the group down as well.

“We basically dispatched the equivalent of a first-alarm mountain rescue. We had upwards of five mountain rescue teams who responded. That’s a lot of resources,” Phoenix Fire Department Captain Rob McDade said.

Phoenix fire crews said that everyone was evaluated, and the family refused further treatment, so they were not taken to the hospital.

There were also no reported injuries to the rescue crews.

“There’s no reason to be on the trails at 10 a.m. on an extreme heat day like this. Especially with younger children,” McDade said.

Authorities said the Holbert Trail is one of several trails that are currently closed on South Mountain due to extreme heat. There are signs posted saying the trail is closed for hiking activity.

The city of Phoenix has the authority to cite individuals who enter a closed park or preserve per Phoenix City Code Chapter 24, Sec. 24-36. The punishment, if convicted, includes a fine of $50 or more and 8 or more hours of community service.

“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,” McDade said.

City officials said no citations were issued Sunday, as the city’s focus was on the health and safety of the individuals at risk.

On days when there is an extreme heat warning, the city closes the following trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Camelback Mountain Preserve: Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail
• Phoenix Mountains Preserve: The Piestewa Peak Summit trail and associated trails 
• South Mountain Park and Preserve: Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau’pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. 

High temperatures in the Phoenix area were around 111 degrees on Sunday, with the city being under an extreme heat warning to start the week.

Child crime experts say parents could be charged for neglect or abuse for knowingly bringing their children on hiking trails in extreme heat.