Fourth of July ruined for thousands as Pocket Fire rips through Arizona

A massive wildfire is ripping through one of Arizona’s most beloved outdoor escapes — torching Forth of July plans for hikers, campers and tourists headed to Sedona’s famed canyon country.

The Pocket Fire burning north of Sedona and west of Oak Creek Canyon has exploded to 17,069 acres with 20% containment as of Wednesday morning.

More than 950 fire personnel were assigned to the blaze, which began June 19 and remains under investigation.

The flames have pushed into areas near some of northern Arizona’s most treasured recreation spots, including Oak Creek Canyon, the West Fork trail and the panoramic Edge of the World camping area.

Campgrounds, day-use sites and forest access roads in Oak Creek Canyon remained closed, while State Route 89A between Sedona and Kachina Village is off-limits to non-local traffic — cutting off one of the region’s most scenic summer drivers just days before the holiday weekend.

Officials have described the fire as a “long-duration event,” with crews battling brutal conditions in steep, rugged terrain.

“The fire may continue to burn in some isolated areas,” Operations Section Chief Travis Mabery said during a community meeting, according to the Arizona Republic.

Oak Creek Canyon, Kachina Village, Forest Highlands and Pine Del were all placed under “SET” evacuation status, meaning residents should be packed, prepared and ready to leave if conditions worsen.

Stage 2 fire restrictions also took effect in the area Monday, banning campfires, stove fires and outdoor smoking as officials warned of extreme fire danger.

The fight has been especially dangerous because of the fire’s intensity.

A fire behavior analyst said the burning index — a measure of how difficult a wildfire is to contain — hit an all-time record over the weekend, the Republic reported.

Flames reached about 16 feet, putting the blaze in the “extreme” danger category and making it too dangerous for firefighters, engines or aircraft to attack directly.

The fire has devastated locals and visitors, who took to Reddit to mourn the damage to one of Arizona’s most scenic destinations.

“Oak Creek Canyon is such a beautiful gem,” one user wrote, calling the fire “heartbreaking.”

Another said they had “just camped in Oak Creek a few weekends ago,” and were nervous because of the recent wind.

One Flagstaff-area commenter said the smoke pollution had made the air unsafe to breathe, while others shared memories of camping, hiking and family trips through the canyon.

“It will be crispy canyon for a few years,” a longtime resident wrote.

Others tried to reassure worried visitors that fire is part of the Arizona landscape — though recovery could take years.

Smoke from the blaze has drifted into Flagstaff and other northern Arizona communities, triggering air quality concerns and slowing business activity downtown.

Officials said rain and lightning were not expected in the immediate forecast, reducing the risk of new weather-caused ignitions as the Fourth of July holiday approaches.

But with just evacuation warnings and major recreation closures still in place, the Pocket Fire has already upended one of Arizona’s biggest summer getaway weeks.

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