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Pocket Fire Burns North of Sedona, Prompting Evacuations and Major Highway Closure

Hot, dry winds are preventing containment of the blaze.

Overview

  • The Pocket Fire ignited in the Red Rock–Secret Mountain Wilderness near East Pocket on Friday, June 19, and has since burned through rugged terrain north of Sedona.
  • Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Oak Creek Canyon and dispersed camping sites while the American Red Cross opened a shelter at Red Rock High School for displaced residents and visitors.
  • State Route 89A is closed for roughly 23 miles between Sedona and the Fort Tuthill/Flagstaff area, cutting the main scenic route and forcing long detours for travelers.
  • Incident commanders report 0% containment in early updates with acreage estimates varying between about 100 and 500 acres, and no injuries have been reported so far.
  • Fire managers have deployed hotshot crews, engines, a bulldozer and aircraft to build control lines, and officials warn that hot, dry and windy weather plus steep fuel‑scarred slopes are the chief obstacles to suppression.