Please see the following announcement from the Coconino National Forest regarding the Pocket Fire.
Know your evacuation zone by going to www.sedonaaz.gov/ready.
Acres: 293
Start Date: June 19, 2026
Location: 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 302 personnel
Fuels: Timber and Brush
Containment: 0% contained
Highlights: On Saturday, firefighters, with strong air support, were able to keep fire growth to a minimum. 90% of the fire area was treated with retardant from aircraft, but steep, difficult terrain prevented support on the ground, allowing the fire to remain very active. The potential for growth continues to be very high.
Operations: On Saturday, crews prepped along FS 231 and extended line to the edge of Oak Creek Canyon to strengthen containment to the west and north of the fire. They also put line in to protect the historic East Pocket Lookout. Today crews will take opportunities to employ direct extinguishment tactics where they can be used without undue risk to firefighters. Other firefighters will explore indirect options, such as the reinforcement and consolidation of roads, trails and natural features to establish containment lines around the fire. A structure protection group will work in developed areas to identify and fortify houses and other structures against fire. Two initial attack teams are prepared to work with local resources to suppress any new starts in the area. Weather permitting, aviation resources will continue supporting firefighters on the ground with drops of retardant or water. Airborne imaging will inform fire managers of potential opportunities and dangers. More resources for both ground and air operations have been ordered and will be utilized as they report to the fire in upcoming days.
Evacuations: Visitors and residents of Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Forest Highlands are under a GO evacuation order. State Route 89A is closed from Sedona to Ft. Tuthill. Woody Mountain Road (FS 231) is closed. The American Red Cross is maintaining an evacuation shelter at Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336. For the For the Coconino County Evacuation Map, visit emergency-management-operations-coconinocounty.hub.arcgis.com. For more information on the Ready, Set, Go! evacuation system, visit: ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.
Weather: Over the next few days, temperatures will continue to rise under mostly sunny skies. No measurable precipitation is expected in the area, and daytime relative humidity could drop to 15-20%. Winds are expected to be moderate but gusty. Shifting localized winds are a particular hazard to firefighters in the canyon country.
Closures and Warnings: A portion of Coconino National Forest around the Pocket Fire is closed to the public to ensure safety of the public and firefighters. For more details, including a closure area map, visit: fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/alerts/pocket-fire-closure-order-effect. Lake Mary has been closed for use as a water source for firefighting aircraft. See: fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/alerts/lake-mary-temporarily-closed. Road closure information can be found by visiting: az511.com. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect surrounding the fire area. This is to ensure safety of firefighting aircraft. For more information, visit: tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_9455. Remember: If you fly, we can’t!
Safety: Crews, heavy equipment, and machinery remain active in and around the incident. The safety of firefighters and the public is our highest priority, and we ask everyone to stay aware of ongoing operations. Fire personnel continue working along area road systems, and increased caution from the public helps keep both firefighters and community members safe.
Smoke: Smoke may be problematic in the vicinity of the fire. For information on mitigating risks associated with wildfire smoke, visit: wildlandfiresmoke.net/smoke-ready.
Phone Number: 928-260-0543 (7a.m. - 7p.m.)
Email: 2026.pocket@firenet.gov
Inciweb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azcof-pocket-fire
Facebook: facebook.com/CoconinoNF
