A wildfire rapidly spreading in Oak Creek Canyon has prompted the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office to issue immediate evacuation orders. This urgent measure affects both residents and visitors between Sedona and Forest Highlands.
The blaze, known as the Pocket Fire, was first observed around 5 p.m. along the western rim of Oak Creek Canyon, situated in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness. According to Inciweb, the fire had expanded to approximately 500 acres by 9:20 p.m. on Friday.
In response to the fire, the Arizona Department of Transportation has shut down State Route 89A, stretching from Ft. Tuthill in Flagstaff to Sedona’s northern boundary.
Authorities are advising those in the End/Edge of the World area southwest of Flagstaff to evacuate and are discouraging travel on Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231).
By Friday evening, around 7 p.m., firefighting efforts included two hotshot crews, a dozer, five engines, and aerial support, with additional resources en route. Coconino National Forest officials have stated that a “direct extinguishment and full suppression strategy” is being employed.
For those displaced by the Pocket Fire, the American Red Cross will open a shelter at Rock High School, located at 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road in Sedona, by 10 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, land managers have reported that a separate fire near the Utah-Arizona border has expanded to over 2,200 acres and is 5% contained.
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