PHOENIX — Phoenix firefighters rescued two men in distress on two different mountain trails within hours of each other Friday.
At about 9 a.m., Phoenix Fire Department crews were called to the Mormon Trail at South Mountain to rescue a 22-year-old autistic man.
When crews got to him he was in critical condition, suffering from dehydration and other heat-related illnesses, officials said.
Rescuers used advanced cooling measures to help reduce the hiker's temperature and anxiety.
A helicopter was used to hoist him off the mountain and to an ambulance on the ground.
He was taken to a hospital for further treatment.
The firefighters who performed the rescue in the heat went through a rehab and rehydration process before returning to work, according to Phoenix Fire officials.
Then at about noon, firefighters were called to Shaw Butte at North Mountain for a report of a hiker laying on the ground.
Rescue crews arrived and found a 55-year-old man experiencing an altered level of consciousness.
The man was loaded onto a service vehicle and brought down the mountain.
He was treated for heat-related illness and transported to the hospital in critical condition.
No emergency responders were hurt during either rescue.
An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for the Phoenix metro area through Monday.
Phoenix Parks & Rec close all city mountain trails from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during excessive heat.
