SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — First responders stay ready to head out to hiking trails for rescues during extreme heat days. It happens all too often here in the Valley. That is why one nonprofit is working to educate people on the dangers of hiking in the summer heat.

Some popular Phoenix hiking trails shut down from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. when an extreme heat warning is in effect. “I think when you do close a trial, it tends to encourage some people. It seems a challenge, perhaps,” said conservancy CEO Mike Roberts.

Trails in Scottsdale stay open. That is where the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy steps in to help. The mission is reflected in the nonprofit’s name, but it is also dedicated to ensuring that people enjoy the preserve safely.

“We have 660 stewards. We talk to probably 130,000 visi

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