Latest on the family of 11 rescued from a hiking trail in Arizona
PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A family of 11 had to be rescued from a hiking trail in Arizona Sunday afternoon after having heat-related issues.
A simple warning, yet people ignore it time and time again.
"This is an extreme heat day. There is no reason to be on the trails," said Captain Rob McDade with the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD). "It's a windy, hot, dry day. There's the recipe right there."
One group even hiked right past a fence and several closed signs, only to call for rescue two hours later.
"That's an act that could be deemed almost as selfish if you're going to then put somebody else and rescuers in harm's way," Captain McDade expressed.
In triple digit heat, firefighters hiked up the Holbert Trail to rescue the group of six adults and five children.
They started around 10:00 a.m. Sunday, but by noon, several kids were complaining of heat and exhaustion, unable to finish the hike.
"Their ability to compensate rather than adults is very high. The problem is they compensate, compensate and then they fall off," McDade shared.
Firefighters rapidly cooled the hikers before helping them down the mountain. Two of the kids had to be carried down in a big wheel basket.
"We were pretty aggressive in our response," McDade remarked.
The City of Phoenix closes popular hiking trails when the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning, but McDade says there's no way to actually keep people off the mountains.
"We can't effectively stop people. We don't have the resources to have somebody waiting in front to say you can't access this trail. I mean there is no less than 100 ways to get on this mountain and that's not even an exaggeration," McDade explained.
He's hoping people heed their warning to stay inside and stay cool on the hottest days of the year, but when they don't, firefighters will be ready to come to the rescue.
"We're here to rescue people off the mountains. That's our job. That will never stop," McDade declared.
People who hike closed trails can face fines. It's unclear if the adults in this situation will face punishment.
