Please see the following announcement from the U.S. Forest Service regarding the Pocket Fire. Note: the team will host a public meeting in Sedona at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 at the Red Rock Junior and Senior High School at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona, Arizona.
Know your evacuation zone by going to www.sedonaaz.gov/ready.
Acres: 17,069
Start Date: June 19, 2026
Location: 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 1,036
Fuels: Timber and Brush
Containment: 20%
Highlights: Oak Creek Canyon, Forest Highlands, Kachina Village, and Pine Dell remain in SET status.
Public Meeting: The team will host a public meeting in Sedona at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 at the Red Rock Junior and Senior High School 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona Arizona. Representatives from the team and local authorities will present information about the Pocket Fire. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. American Sign Language (ASL) and closed captioning will be available. The meeting will be live streamed and available on the Coconino National Forest Facebook page:
facebook.com/CoconinoNF.
Operations: Due to offensive firefighting and improved weather conditions, containment has been established in some areas of the fire. However, fire remains active to the east near West Fork and to the south near Seven Canyons. Evacuation status has not changed. Because of the complexity of the landscape, the fire remains dynamic and is far from over. During the day Tuesday, crews continued prepping along Forest Road (FR) 535 in preparation for a burning operation to secure more of the line on the northeast part of the fire. They were supported by retardant and water drops in this operation. On the north side of West Fork, they worked to connect with a dozer line from the 2014 Slide Fire. This work intends to reduce fuel loading and prevent the fire escaping West Fork and moving across the plateau towards the communities in set status. On Barney Ridge, above the south side of West Fork, crews worked to put in dozer line to check flanking fire in that direction. To the south side, fire continues to slow as it moves down Dry Creek and Bear Sign Canyons. It has slowed enough so that crews will use direct extinguishment tactics on it today. Work in that section has been assisted by helicopter drops using water from dip sites established in the canyon. As a contingency, control lines are being put in place to stop advancement in that direction. On the west side of the fire, burning operations were undertaken last night after preparation was completed during the day. As a backup for FR 231, crews are building FR 538 into a contingency line. Lines established in other areas are holding. Initial Attack groups are standing by to assist with any new starts in the area.
Evacuations and Closures: The Coconino County Pocket Fire information page, including an evacuation map is at:
coconino.az.gov/pocketfire. Evacuation status has not changed. For evacuation questions, call the Coconino County Sheriff’s office: 928-774-4523. Coconino National Forest has implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. A portion of the forest remains closed. For more details, visit:
http://fs.usda.gov/.../pocket-fire-closure-order-effect. Sections of state Route 89A and Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231) are closed. Residents of Oak Creek Canyon need to enter the canyon from the south. For exact road closure locations, visit:
az511.com. For information on the READY, SET, GO! evacuation system, visit:
ein.az.gov/ready-set-go. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect over the fire area. For more information, visit:
tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_9455. If you fly, we can’t!
Weather: The forecast today calls for highs in the 70s at higher elevations and up to 90 near Sedona. Sustained southwest winds will reach 15 mph with gusts to 20 mph. It will be clear and sunny with continued very low humidity. No precipitation is expected for several days. Weather will remain consistent over the next few days.
Safety: The area has experienced air quality from “Very Unhealthy” to “Good.” This can change from hour to hour, so the public should remain vigilant. For information, visit
outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/760194b8. Crews and heavy equipment remain very active in the area. Authorized motorists should drive cautiously around switchbacks and blind curves as fire traffic and large vehicles will have an increased presence on the road.
Phone Number: 928-260-0543 (7a.m. - 7p.m.)
