July 9, 2026: Fire officials 'pretty pleased' with containment progress
Fire crews battling the Pocket Fire near Sedona have made significant progress — the blaze is nearly 70% contained.
Fire spokesman Bob Poole says they’re “pretty pleased” with the progress made. And at this point, he says the hope is to put the fire mostly out in the next two weeks.
"Probably our biggest areas of concern are the West Fork and Oak Creek Canyon areas, where accessibility is very limited. So aircraft is supporting our people on the ground," Poole said.
Poole reiterated that while they’re not expecting any rain over the fire, the wind from nearby thunderstorms are often unpredictable.
July 8, 2026: Containment increases to 53%
The state’s largest active wildfire is now more than 53% contained. Fire crews are now pivoting to protecting structures alongside increasing containment.
The Pocket Fire north of Sedona near Oak Creek Canyon has burned several thousand acres. Fire spokesman Bob Poole says crews are now working to protect prehistoric tribal sites.
"There's structures, there's cliff dwellings. Once they're gone, they're gone. So, you know, we need to, it's part of what we do," he said.
Poole says their meteorologist isn’t predicting any rain storms for now. But the weather is expected to get windier — and that could throw crews a curveball as they continue their containment efforts.
The Pocket Fire north of Sedona near Oak Creek Canyon has burned over 27,000 acres. More than 1,200 fire personnel continue to battle the blaze. State Route 89A remains closed between Sedona and Flagstaff, except for residents. Oak Creek Canyon and surrounding areas remain on high alert for evacuations.
July 7, 2026: Firefighters make progress, reach 48% containment
The Pocket Fire in the Oak Creek area north of Sedona is still burning, but firefighters are making progress against the blaze, which has consumed close to 27,000 acres — about 42 square miles.
Now 48% contained, U.S Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole says over 1,200 personnel are still battling the blaze and mother nature has been cooperating.
“Fire is influenced by terrain, vegetation and weather. So, if they all agree, it helps us out a lot. So, without heavy winds pushing the fire, it gives us the advantage,” Poole said.
Areas near Oak Creek Canyon, Seven Canyons and the Enchantment Resort remain on high alert for evacuation.
State Route 89A remains closed from Sedona to I-17, except for residents.
July 5, 2026: Pocket Fire is going to be around for a while, official says
Response crews have achieved 38% containment of the Pocket Fire over the weekend. The fire, located just north of Sedona, has burned over 25,000 acres.
In a video published on social media, lead spokesperson for the response team, Bill Morse, says the fire is going to be around for a while.
“We're not always going to have these big plumes of smoke, but it's going to take a while for it to settle down slowly," he said.
A response team from California assumed management of the fire this Sunday. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office will continue to alert the public about potential evacuations.
July 4, 2026: American Airlines issues flight restrictions at Flagstaff Airport
American Airlines has issued restrictions for flights coming in and out of Flagstaff Airport due to a nearby wildfire.
The Pocket Fire, which started June 19 just north of Sedona, has burned more than 23,000 acres as is 25% contained as of Friday afternoon.
Flight restrictions first took effect at the airport on June 28 and will continue into next week. The changes are part of a continuing effort to protect firefighting aircraft.
Claire Harper is the spokesperson for the airport, and she said changing weather conditions are a huge factor in determining the restrictions.
“As the wind has died down this week, the early morning hours have been tolerable, but then when the wind direction changes in the late morning it blows into Flagstaff,” Harper said.
Harper said the restrictions will primarily affect flights taking off between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.. She said restrictions like these are unprecedented at Flagstaff Airport.
“I talked to staff that have been at the airport for more than 30 years and they do not recall flight restrictions from wildcrafts or wildfire aircraft operating impacts at the airport ever,” Harper said.
Harper recommended passengers monitor the American Airlines app for changes to their flights.
July 1, 2026: Crews stop northward progression of fire
The Pocket Fire located in the Oak Creek area north of Sedona had burned more than 17,000 acres and was still zero percent contained on Wednesday.
But fire officials say they are making some progress on the blaze, and have been able to stop its northward progression.
"We’re just being real conservative about calling stuff contained right now. We’ve got quite a bit of line that’s in that state, but still being conservative since this is such a dynamic fire," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Dick Fleishman.
Nearly 1,000 personnel are battling the blaze.
The communities of Oak Creek Canyon, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands and Pine Del remain on high alert for evacuation.
State Route 89A remains closed from Sedona to I-17, except for residents. Air quality is poor in the Flagstaff area as winds continue to bring smoke and ash to the high country.
June 30, 2026: Communities a step away from evacuation. Officials tell residents to stay vigilant
Photos and videos show flames burning over the rim of Oak Creek Canyon — one of our state’s most beloved destinations on fire. The smoke is billowing over Flagstaff, roads are closed, and the communities of Oak Creek Canyon, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands and Pine Del are under evacuation warnings.
For more on the fire’s spread and efforts battle it, The Show spoke to John Truett, state fire manager at the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
June 29, 2026: Fire still 0% contained despite growth
The Pocket Fire located in the Oak Creek area north of Sedona jumped to more than 11,000 acres over the weekend and its perimeter was still zero percent contained Monday.
U.S. Fire Service spokesman Dick Fleishman says high winds over the weekend spurred fire growth.
"Nine out of 10 embers hitting the ground were starting spot fires and that just kept getting driven by 30 mile per hour winds and 50 mile per hour gusts — that’s what made that 2- to 3-mile run. We’ve had a piece of line that’s held since the first night, but we’ve been hesitant to call anything contained just because of these winds," Fleishman said.
Fire managers also attributed the growth to a strategic burnout operation carried out overnight around Fernow Cabin on the fire's western flank.
A burnout is an intentional firefighting tactic used to remove vegetation ahead of an advancing wildfire, creating areas with little or no fuel left to burn.
The forecast calls for more moderate winds Monday.
Over 900 personnel are still battling the blaze.
State Route 89A remains closed from Sedona to I-17, except for residents.
The greater Flagstaff communities of Kachina Village, Forest Highlands and Pine Del all remain in SET status to be prepared to evacuate if needed.
A virtual public meeting will be livestreamed on the Coconino National Forest Facebook page at 7 p.m.
— KNAU's Chris Clements contributed to this report
June 28, 2026: Blaze grows rapidly
Red Flag conditions on Sunday were impacting the Pocket Fire, which had burned 5,547 acres north of Sedona.
June 26, 2026: Fire remains 0% contained
The Pocket Fire located in the Oak Creek area north of Sedona, has now grown to almost 1,500 acres and its perimeter is still zero percent contained.
Nearly 1,000 personnel under the command of the Coconino National Forest’s Red Rock Ranger District are still battling the blaze. Firefighters are watching the weather as winds pick up and a red flag fire warning is now in effect. State Route 89A remains closed from Sedona to I-17, except for residents.
June 24, 2026: Fire doubles in size
The Pocket Fire located in the Oak Creek area north of Sedona has doubled in size in the past day, up to 691 acres Wednesday morning and still zero percent contained.
Fire officials say almost 700 personnel are battling the blaze, which they say is currently burning in tough terrain making access extremely difficult and hazardous for firefighters.
Local authorities, though, have reduced the evacuation status of Oak Creek Canyon from GO to SET.
State Route 89A remains closed from Sedona to Interstate 17 except for residents.
Also, the lightning-caused Sycamore Fire north of Globe is growing, too, now at over 9,500 acres and only 17% contained.
June 22, 2026: Wildfire remains uncontained
A fire burning near Sedona prompted evacuations over the weekend as well as the closure of State Route 89A in both directions.
The Pocket Fire has burned 320 acres so far and was still uncontained Monday.
KNAU: Potential for escape is high’ on Pocket Fire, fire managers say
About 430 crew members are responding to the fire, with aircraft treating about 90% of the area over the weekend. There was minimal spread over Sunday.
Hot weather and windy conditions contributed to the blaze. But Dick Fleishman with the U.S. Forest Service says the forecast for later this week is concerning for different reasons. “Potential for thunderstorms and outflow winds from those, which could be very problematic and could push the fire in any direction," he said.
Meanwhile, heat and drought conditions have led to fires in Utah and increased fire warnings in Colorado.
June 22, 2026: Property and businesses threatened in Oak Creek Canyon
Businesses near the Pocket Fire told KNAU they were worried about fire movement and possible effects.
June 20, 2026: Evacuations issued for blaze
A federal interagency team and at least a dozen local agencies were working Saturday to combat the Pocket Fire burning roughly 300 acres of very steep and rough terrain near Oak Creek Canyon, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer with the southwest area complex incident management team.
The fire is concentrated in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain wilderness area about 7 miles north of Sedona, but it has started to creep into the Coconino National Forest.
Firefighters are working to contain the burn, prevent it from moving toward Oak Creek Canyon, where residents and visitors have been evacuated, or Sedona, and prepare for the possibility that it does.
Fleishman said the steep slope where the fire is burning, the property at risk nearby, the heat firefighters are working in and the risk of post-fire flooding caused by rain rushing down the slope are among the reasons the Pocket Fire is particularly concerning.
“This fire ramped up in complexity quickly," he said. “We want to try and keep it as small a footprint as possible."
About 30 miles of the adjacent state highway was closed in both directions. Evacuations were issued for visitors and residents near Oak Creek Canyon, which attracts millions of visitors each year.
“For June 20," Fleishman said of his drive through the area, “I've never seen it that quiet.”
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