
More resources have arrived to help with suppression efforts on the roughly 500-acre Pocket Fire located about 7 miles north of Sedona and west of Oak Creek Canyon.
The fire was first reported 5 p.m. June 19. Its cause is undetermined.
Evacuations remain in effect in the Oak Creek Canyon area and state Route 89A remains closed between Fort Tuthill and the north end of Sedona. Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road [FR] 231) is closed past Forest Road 536. A formal closure order for the area surrounding the Pocket Fire is expected to be established soon.

David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers

David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers

David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers

David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
The latest evacuation information can be obtained from Coconino County at coconino.az.gov/ready and the latest road closure information can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Transportation at az511.com.
Resources assigned to the fire include seven Hotshot crews, one dozer, 13 engines, miscellaneous overhead, six helicopters and air attack, with more expected to arrive over the course of today.
Northern Arizona Type 3 Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire at 6 a.m., and Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 has been ordered to assume command of the fire shortly afterward.
The suppression strategy of the Pocket Fire includes the use of a direct extinguishment strategy to confine the Pocket Fire to as small a perimeter as possible as quickly as possible. Firefighters will take a direct approach against the edge of the fire by building containment lines when and where it is safe to do so, and will use indirect confinement tactics, such as firing operations, where necessary to provide for firefighter safety.





Photos by David Jolkovski/Larson Newspapers
Incident objectives at this time include keeping the fire west of state Route 89A, south of FR 535 and south and east of FR 231.
Firefighters spent Friday evening using a dozer to establish fire line on the northeast side of the fire perimeter and using aerial resources to drop retardant on the east portion of the fire.
Fire behavior remained active late into Friday night, and dry and windy conditions expected throughout the weekend will likely exacerbate fire behavior.
Crews plan to spend Saturday holding and strengthening dozer line constructed last night while bringing that dozer line in northwest direction. Firefighters are also working protect East Pocket Lookout Tower.
Aviation resources will continue working on the eastern perimeter of the fire, and firefighters positioned at both Slide Rock State Park and Seven Canyons Golf Club are working to protect values at risk in Oak Creek Canyon.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect surrounding the fire area. The public is asked to refrain from nearby drone use. Drones pose a serious risk to firefighters and can impede aerial firefighting operations.

















