More than 200 firefighters from numerous agencies are battling the Slide Fire in Oak Creek Canyon.
Fire crews began evacuations Tuesday evening. Evacuations are along approximately a 2-mile stretch of area from Slide Rock State Park north toward Junipine, as well as the East Pocket Forest Service Lookout Tower. Evacuees north of the wildfire are being relocated to Sinagua Middle School in Flagstaff.
Resources include one Type 1 Incident Management Team, approximately 200 personnel including five Hotshot crews, three air tankers, three helicopters, one air attack, 10 engines, two water tenders, Sedona Fire, a fuels crew and two dozers.
Acreage is expected to grow throughout the day and reach approximately 1,000 to 2,000 acres by nightfall. An accurate acreage count is usually determined by overflights that are conducting at night, so the next official acreage may not be available until the following morning of the flights.
Law Enforcement is seeking any information the public may have regarding the start of the Slide Fire and anyone of suspicion in the area yesterday between Slide Rock State Park and Half Way Picnic Area.
The public should call Forest Service Law Enforcement at 928-527-3511 if they have any information that might assist law enforcement in the investigation.
For photos of the fire, including exclusive photos from the Incident Command center at Slide Rock State Park, see the Friday, May 23, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.
