Oak Creek Canyon Evacuation Status Changes from GO to SET for the Pocket Fire
Daily Update: June 23, 2026
Acres: 341 Start
Date: June 19, 2026
Location: 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 625
Fuels: Timber and Brush
Containment: 0%
Highlights: Local authorities reduced the evacuation status of Oak Creek Canyon from GO to SET at 8 a.m. today. Only residents with proof of identity and residence will be permitted entry. While residents are permitted to access their homes, the Pocket Fire closure order remains in effect.
Operations: Reported acreage on the fire changed Sunday due to better mapping after an infrared (IR) flight overnight. The fire is currently burning in very tough country making access extremely difficult and hazardous for firefighters. Fire managers are planning for shifting weather patterns expected later in the week. Winds will swing to the Southeast, aligning with Oak Creek Canyon and its tributaries as wind gusts reach as high as 45 mph. Firefighters are using indirect containment strategy, preparing lines to protect identified values against the possible effects of this alignment. To that end, work is continuing to strengthen Forest Road 231. Structure protection has been split into two groups to continue their efforts more effectively. Fire managers are using aircraft to slow the progress of the fire, giving firefighters on the ground time to strengthen and link trails, roads and natural features into viable fire barriers.
Evacuations: Oak Creek Canyon between Sedona and Forest Highlands has been downgraded to a SET evacuation order. State Route 89A is closed from Sedona to Ft. Tuthill except for residents. Woody Mountain Road (FR 231) is closed. For the Coconino County Evacuation Map, visit emergency-management-operationscoconinocounty.hub.arcgis.com. For more information on the READY, SET, GO! evacuation system, visit: ein.az.gov/ready-set-go.
Weather: Today will be hot, reaching over 100° in parts of the fire area. Winds will be moderate but gusty. Wednesday and Thursday will see slight cooling and a chance of scattered showers or thunderstorms. Little measurable precipitation is expected.
Closures and Warnings: A portion of Coconino National Forest around the Pocket Fire remains closed to the public to ensure safety of the public and firefighters. For more details, including a closure area map, visit:
http://fs.usda.gov/…/pocket-fire-closure-order-effect. Lake Mary has been closed for use as a water source for firefighting aircraft. For more information, see: http://fs.usda.gov/…/alerts/lake-marytemporarily-closed. Road closure information can be found by visiting: az511.com. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect surrounding the fire area. This is to ensure safety of firefighting aircraft. For more information, visit: tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_9455. Remember: If you fly, we can’t!
Safety: Crews and heavy equipment remain very active on SR 89A. Motorists returning to their homes in Oak Creek Canyon should drive cautiously around switchbacks and blind curves as fire traffic and large vehicles will have an increased presence on the road. Slow speeds are advised to ensure motorist and firefighter safety.
Smoke: The area is experiencing good to moderate air quality but changes in fire activity could change those conditions. For more information, visit outlooks.airfire.org/outlook/760194b8.
