Pocket Fire Grows to 20,000 Acres; 21% Contained; Smoke Impacts Flagstaff

Pocket Fire Expands, Crews Focus on Containment Efforts

The Pocket Fire has now engulfed over 20,000 acres, presenting a significant challenge for firefighting teams working diligently to secure containment lines. As of Thursday morning, containment had reached 21%, focusing primarily on the northern and eastern boundaries of the blaze.

Fire management officials reported substantial progress on the northern perimeter, indicating that some firefighters might soon be reassigned to other critical areas. However, the fire remains active in the southern regions, particularly within the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness near Sedona and the neighboring Seven Canyons and Enchantment resorts. The West Fork Canyon area is also under threat, with efforts ongoing to prevent the fire from advancing toward Oak Creek Canyon and the plateau beyond.

Communities around Flagstaff are enduring significant smoke impacts, leading to “very unhealthy” air quality levels in recent days, as monitored by air sensors. The National Weather Service has forecasted that smoke conditions will worsen in Flagstaff during the afternoons, dissipating overnight as winds shift toward Sedona and Cottonwood. This pattern is expected to persist into Friday.

Residents in Sedona can observe the smoke clearly from their location, though it remains several miles from most residential areas. Firefighters have proactively placed sprinkler systems in Kachina Village, which has returned to a “Ready” status, while Oak Creek Canyon is still under a “Set” pre-evacuation warning.