The Pocket Fire is 76% contained at 27,293 acres as of Monday, July 13, with 862 personnel. State Route 89A was reopened in both directions through Oak Creek Canyon, and the canyon, Seven Canyons and Enchantment Resort were downgraded to ‘Ready’ pre-evacuation status.
“Motorists can expect lane restrictions on SR 89A Mondays through Thursdays between Pine Flat Campground and the Oak Creek Vista scenic overlook (mileposts 387-390) due to a previously scheduled guardrail improvement project,” the Arizona Department of Transportation posted to social media July 13. “Flagging operations in the area will allow traffic to travel through the work zone one direction at a time. A 12-foot vehicle width restriction is in effect. North- and southbound SR 89A lanes will be open Friday through Sunday.
“In the West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, the fire continues to hold within existing retardant lines, but hot spots remain,” the USFS wrote in its Sunday, July 12, update. “Aerial resources patrol and monitor the area. When conditions allow, aerial resources assist with equipment removal. Crews continue chipping along the 89A corridor through proposed fuel breaks west of the highway, as well as being available for initial attack. Prepping and chipping of fuels greatly reduce fire intensity should it reach those pre-treated areas.”
“Containment is increasing above the Seven Canyons area, and those lines will be reinforced with the same fuel treatments,” USFS wrote. “Aerial patrols identified no remaining hot spots in Long Canyon.”
Thunderstorms this past weekend did not bring much rain to the Pocket Fire area, according to Incident Meteorologist Brooke Taber. Most of the rain fell within the central and northern portions of the fire perimeter, with Red Hill recording 0.47 inches and Small Tank 0.39 inches.
The National Weather Service forecasts monsoon activity throughout the week with an 80% chance of precipitation on Wednesday, July 15, with a 90% chance on Thursday and Friday July 16 and July 17.
“The fire is doing pretty much nothing at the moment. We were expecting to get some rain on it yesterday and got a little bit of drizzle, but nothing significant, and today, our primary goal is to continue reinforcing the existing lines and prepare for eventual transfer of command to the,” Coconino National Forest, USFS spokesman Robert Poole said on Monday July 13.
“[While] the active firefight is coming to an end,” Poole said. “We are now in the process of doing suppression rehab, meaning we’re going through with heavy equipment any areas that we’ve damaged in order to put in line or do take care of roads that we’re trying to repair that before everybody leaves, so that winter rains don’t cause more damage than the fire did.”
Joseph K. Giddens
Larson Newspapers
