The town of Oracle, Arizona is facing mandatory evacuations as the Cody Fire continues its burn through Pinal County, with local authorities putting several zones on immediate "GO" status. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the fire, commencing on Wednesday around 3:40 p.m., has scorched 1,218 acres and stands at 5% containment, while evacuation zones 5 and 13-19 are under direct threat.
Evacuation centers have been established at the Mammoth Community Center and Canyon Del Oro High School to assist displaced residents. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management is addressing the blaze with ground crews, aerial support, and over a hundred personnel, as the cause of the inferno remains, under investigation.
Meanwhile, the Pinal County website is keeping a regularly updated section dedicated to the Cody Fire alerts including an evacuation zone map, which is critical for residents to check for real-time updates. San Manuel, located on the east side of Oracle is also on "SET" status, meaning that individuals there should be ready to evacuate. There are restrictions on local roads, and a temporary flight restriction has been imposed on the area, as the community braces for potential further evacuations.
Oracle, home to just over 3,000 people sits about 35 miles north of Tucson and is currently grappling with the natural force of wildfire compounded by Stage 2 fire restrictions in the region. As reported by KTAR News, the Cody Fire had engulfed approximately 1,000 acres of Coronado National Forest land with no containment as of Tuesday morning, the investigation into its cause still ongoing.
