The Woods Fire and latest UPDATES

Published on August 13, 2025

AUGUST 15th NOON UPDATE - SET STATUS HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR ALL AREAS.

However, forest closures remain. You will not be able to access trails, including Jack's Canyon, Woods Canyon, and Hot Loop.

Thank you to all the volunteers and first responders who put in countless hours from the moment this fire was called in to make sure the community was informed and safe.

Please continue to go to U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest for the latest updates.

If you haven’t already, sign up for emergency notifications through Genasys. Go to protect.genasys.com, put in your address, and find your zone. For Everbridge, text the phrase alertYAVAPAI to 888777 and follow the instructions.

UPDATE: AUGUST 14TH 7:30PM: No structures threatened and no new growth but SET status remains through the night. If possible, please continue to avoid the area.

High humidity and lower temperatures today aided fire personnel to use natural and humanmade barriers to slow growth of the Woods Fire. The 55-acre Woods Fire, located approximately 2 miles east of the Village of Oak Creek atop Horse Mesa, was first reported at 12:20 p.m. Aug. 13. A local Type III team is assigned to the incident. Resources on site include two hotshot crews, two engines, two water tenders, a Type I helicopter, and a Type II helicopter. For public health and safety, a closure order was issued for the area around the fire. Closed trails include Jacks Canyon, Woods Canyon, and Hot Loop.Close communication is ongoing with our partners—Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and Sedona Fire. Both have personnel on scene assisting with the incident. Residents in the Village of Oak Creek east of State Route 179 (zones YCU-1400, 1403, 1397, 1391, 1388, 1394, 1385) remain in a “SET” status. Residents should have an emergency kit and essential items ready to go and be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. To locate your zone and learn more about the readiness levels, go to YavapaiReady.gov. Up-to-date status levels can be found at Yavapai County’s Woods Fire incident page (https://www.yavapaiready.gov/Emergency-Operations-Center-Activations/Woods-Fire). County residents can sign up for the Emergency Notification System at ycsoaz.gov/ENS or call the non-emergency line at (928) 771-3260. The cause of the Woods Fire remains under investigation.

UPDATE 8/14 12:30 PM:

Fire has not moved towards a populated area. YCSO deputies and volunteers remain on scene. No structures or homes are threatened, and there are no road closures. The residents of Village of Oak Creek East of 179 including areas of Jacks Canyon Rd and Pine Valley community (YCU-1400, 1403, 1397, 1391, 1388, 1394, 1385) remain on SET status. The road is open, but please look for alternate routes, if possible, to avoid any disruption to fire personnel. All first responders in the area appreciate your patience.

FROM THE US FOREST SERVICE: NOTE THE CLOSURE ORDER AND TRAIL CLOSURES

Woods Fire perimeter map at 55 acres in proximity to Village of Oak Creek. Please note that Woods Canyon, Jacks Canyon, and Hot Loop Trails are currently closed due to fire.

UPDATE AUGUST 14TH 8:30 AM:

There are no road closures or structures threatened at this time, but
the residents of the Village of Oak Creek East of 179, including areas of Jacks Canyon Rd and Pine Valley Community, remain on SET status.
Please stay away from the area, if possible, to avoid any disruption to fire personnel. All first responders in the area appreciate your patience.

From the U.S. Forest Service:
"The Woods Fire, located approximately 2 miles directly east of the Village of Oak Creek atop Horse Mesa is currently 55 acres and has been completely boxed in by retardant that was dropped by air resources yesterday evening.
Though the fire received moisture from monsoon storms yesterday, which aided in suppression efforts, two Hotshot crews are currently working the fire, with another crew on the way in case they are needed.
The Woods Fire was first reported at about 12:20 p.m. on August 13 and is under investigation.
Light smoke is expected to remain visible in the fire area, which can cause hazy conditions in areas below the fire such as the Village of Oak Creek as smoke drains into Verde Valley.
(Video below is taken from images at about 3 min intervals from Apache Maid Lookout web cam this morning from 0650 - 0713 am)"

UPDATE AUGUST 13TH 8:30 PM: SET status remains through the night. YCSO will remain on scene and monitor through the night. No structures or homes are threatened and there are no road closures. Please avoid the area. US Forest Service fire personal have informed YCSO that the fire progress has slowed and there is a retardant line in place.

8/13 3:30pm UPDATE: Attention residents of Village of Oak Creek East of 179 Including areas of Jacks Canyon Rd and Pine Valley (YCU-1400, 1403, 1397, 1391, 1388, 1394, 1385) this is a SET message from YCSO. The Woods Fire is threatening your area. You should prepared to evacuate on short notice. Prepare supplies including important papers, medications, and personal items.

YCSO is currently on the scene of a fire that is east of the Village of Oak Creek and south of Jacks Canyon Road; no structures are threatened at this time. Please use caution in and around the area as fire personnel will be working. YCSO will update as soon as or if any major changes occur, regarding any fire threats to the community and road closures.

Please refer to US Forest U.S. Forest Service - Coconino National Forest for updates regarding the fire.