Fire Threatens Oak Creek as Challenging Conditions Persist
A wildfire, known as the Pocket Fire, located approximately 7 miles north of Sedona, continues to pose a significant threat to Oak Creek. Though its growth over the weekend was minimal, the fire’s potential danger remains high.
Originally estimated at 500 acres, the fire’s size was adjusted to 250 acres following more accurate mapping assessments. Evacuations are still in place for residents in Oak Creek Canyon and areas south of Forest Highlands, and state route 89A remains closed.
According to fire spokesperson Dick Fleishman, the challenging terrain is complicating firefighting efforts. “The potential of this fire is huge and we cannot engage it like we normally do. It’s just not physically safe or possible, just because of the steep terrain and the amount of rock and it’s just totally unsafe. So the potential for this thing to escape is pretty high,” Fleishman said.
While firefighting crews have constructed lines to the north of the fire, the steep slopes have prevented them from establishing containment lines to the east and west, necessitating the use of aircraft to manage the blaze.
Weather conditions this week could further complicate the situation. Fire managers are bracing for hot and dry weather early in the week, with the potential for scattered rain showers later, which could be hazardous. Rain can bring strong, unpredictable winds that exacerbate the fire’s spread. Fleishman noted, “Downdrafts out of thunderstorms could really push this fire in multiple different directions very rapidly.”
Efforts are focused on preventing the fire from reaching Oak Creek Canyon. Crews are reinforcing backup fire lines and refurbishing those initially constructed during the 2014 Slide Fire.
Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently enforced across all of the Coconino National Forest and much of the state.
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