May in Maricopa County ushers in heat relief centers, fire bans, water safety campaigns

Heat relief sites throughout Maricopa County open Friday, May 1, and cities across the Valley are announcing programs and restrictions that will be in place through the summer.

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Maricopa Association of Governments officially launch the 2026 Heat Relief Network on Friday.

The HRN will provide free, cooled spaces and other resources to the public through Sept. 30, county officials stated in a release. Established in 2005, the regional effort brings together government, nonprofit, faith-based organizations and businesses to protect people most at risk from extreme heat and reduce heat-related deaths.

“Heat affects every corner of our community, and preventing heat-related deaths takes effort from all of us,” Kelli Donley Williams, MCDPH deputy director, said.

“When people know where to find help and feel supported, it makes a real difference. That’s why it’s so important that residents know their risk, know where to go for relief and look out for one another.”

 The interactive heat relief man can be viewed at hrn.azmag.gov. It includes more than 200 locations, including indoor cooling centers, respite sites where people can rest for extended periods, hydration stations and donation drop-off locations.

Users can search based on their needs and view details such as hours of operation, services offered and key site features, including pet-friendly locations.

“Extreme heat is one of the most serious, predictable challenges our region faces each year and providing relief requires a strong collaborative response,” MAG Executive Director Audra Koester Thomas said.

“The Heat Relief Network exemplifies the power of regionalism by bringing together partners across Maricopa County to ensure residents know where to go, how to stay safe and that help is within reach during hot summer days.”

For those needing assistance by phone, 211 Arizona operators will take calls, in English and Spanish, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to help find nearby cooling centers, utility assistance programs or other resources, according to the county.

Valley cities also offer services to help people stay cool, safe and hydrated.

In Queen Creek resources also will be available through Sept. 30.

The Queen Creek Library is the town’s designated cooling center and hydration station. The library provides access to water, computers and has free WiFi.

The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday-Saturday and is located at 21802 S. Ellsworth Road.

An annual fire ban will be in place from May 1 until Sept. 30 in Phoenix, according to the city’s parks and recreation department.

The fire ban follows Maricopa County Air Quality Department burn activity regulations, which prohibit outdoor fires from May 1 through Sept. 30 throughout the county, including all regional parks. 

During the fire ban, the following are prohibited in Phoenix preserves: 

• Campfires
• Fire pits
• Charcoal grills

The following activity is permitted: 

• Gas or propane grills in ramadas and designated picnic areas.

For more: phoenix.gov/parks/trails.

Water safety is a theme across the Valley during summer months.

Queen Creek will mark the start of its family swim time at its Pool-a-Palooza event from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 23, at the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center, 22343 E. Ryan Road.

During the event,  the Queen Creek Fire Department will be on hand to provide life-saving information, as will the center’s lifeguards.

“We’ll have a booth set up with our lifeguards to help educate patrons about life jacket use and making sure that life jackets are fitted properly, what it means to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, as opposed to a normal personal flotation device,” said Joey LaNeve, the town’s aquatic supervisor.

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