Public Safety

San Diego heat-related 911 calls surpass last year’s total

County data show 378 heat-related emergency calls through September 17, compared with 247 during all of 2025.

Published October 6, 2026

Heat-related 911 calls in San Diego County have already exceeded last year’s full-year total, KPBS reported October 6. The county recorded 378 such calls through September 17, up from 247 during all of 2025.

Response during the heat wave

San Diego Deputy Fire Chief Willy Melendez told KPBS that the figures may undercount heat illness because dispatchers do not always know a case is heat-related until responders assess the patient. The city has added ambulances, extended cooling-center hours and alerted residents by text and phone during the current heat wave.

Who is calling

Most calls came from neighborhoods in the city of San Diego, and the largest share involved people ages 15 to 44. The county’s public-health officer said outdoor work and sports may help explain that pattern.

Heat stroke is an emergency. Confusion, slurred speech, fainting or very hot skin can signal heat stroke; call 911 and move the person to a cooler place while help is on the way.

Original reporting: KPBS Public Media →