Police, fire crews respond to rescue calls as storms hit Phoenix

As the Valley was hit with rainstorms on Friday, local public safety agencies began responding to reports of cars stuck in water.

PHOENIX — Friday’s active storms across the Valley resulted in the region’s public safety agencies responding to multiple rescue calls. 

The Scottsdale police and fire departments are responding to an area near Hayden Road and McCormick Parkway for a car stuck in floodwaters. 

Officials responded to 227th Avenue and Patton Road for a water rescue in the Wittmann area after getting reports of two people apparently trapped in a wash following the heavy rainfall in the West Valley.

The sheriff’s office said the water reportedly swept away two people. They were eventually found safe and police learned they were able to exit the wash and return home. 

The Surprise Police Department said officers responded to the area of 161st Ave and Morning Vista after a car got stuck in about a foot of water. A person was able to safely exit the vehicle.

Another vehicle became submerged in water located near the Interstate 10 and Interstate 17 split. The car’s driver was able to exit the vehicle, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The Phoenix Fire Department also reported responding to multiple incidents Friday afternoon as storm clouds actively moved across the Valley. A rescue call was reported at 32nd and Van Buren streets after a vehicle got stuck in the flooded roadway.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reported to flooding incidents near 99th Avenue.

A flash flood warning was issued for several parts of the Valley on Friday.

Strong thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall currently affecting much of the Phoenix area. If driving, please exercise extreme caution as visibilities in this heavy rainfall will be reduced to less than 2 miles at times. #azwx pic.twitter.com/TCvRSwHKkN

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 26, 2025

RELATED: Over 300 flights delayed at Sky Harbor, flash flood warning issued for Phoenix

How big is Maricopa County?

Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.

The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).

One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.

The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.

The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.

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