Wildfire News

Officials say ozone levels in Flagstaff have spiked in recent days as the Pocket Fire creates hazardous air quality for vulnerable populations.

Crews on the Pocket Fire have stopped northward progress as they continue to conduct burnout operations and strengthen lines on the blaze that's grown to more than 15,000 acres.

A wildland firefighter for the Kaibab National Forest was among those killed Saturday while working to suppress a wildfire in western Colorado.

Authorities said Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale and two others were killed while responding to the Knowles Fire Saturday. Hutcherson was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Kaibab National Forest.

After the Pocket Fire exploded in size over the weekend, Kachina Village residents felt anxious as they prepared for a possible evacuation. KNAU caught up with a few of them.

Fire managers attribute most of the overnight growth to a strategic burnout operation carried out around Fernow Cabin on the western flank of the Pocket Fire.

Officials from the Coconino National Forest, City of Flagstaff and Coconino County will implement stage 2 fire restrictions on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

The fire grew over 5,500 acres overnight. A spokesperson for the team managing the blaze says he hopes it will be easier to fight in the flatter terrain south of Kachina Village and Forest Highlands.

Saturday’s heavy winds caused the Pocket Fire to nearly double in size to 5,547 acres as Kachina Village and Forest Highlands remain in Set status.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has placed all zones of Kachina Village and Forest Highlands in Set status because of the Pocket Fire burning north of Sedona.