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Evacuation orders lifted as Cody Fire in Pinal County reaches 90% containment

Evacuation orders for residents of Oracle have been lifted as the Cody Fire reached 90% containment, according to federal tracker InciWeb. The wildfire has burned more than 1,200 acres in Pinal County since beginning on May 21. Fire officials announced updated evacuation orders effective the evening of May 26, allowing residents to return to their homes. Following the "ready, set, go" scale, zone 18 in the Oracle area was in "set" status, while zone 17 had been downgraded with no further restrictions. As residents returned to their homes, officials asked motorists to be cautious as firefighters and incident crews remained active in the area to reinforce the fire perimeter and extinguish any remaining heat sources, according to a Facebook post from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. As of May 27, 589 people remained fighting the blaze, InciWeb detailed. The fire burned down an unknown number of structures, some of which were homes, outside Oracle, officials confirmed May 23. Utility providers were conducting essential repairs to powerlines in and around communities, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4. Roads remain closed at Cody Loop and Wildcat Trail, and Cody Loop and East Mount Lemmon Highway, the team said. In response to the Cody Fire, the Coronado National Forest implemented trail and campsite closures near the affected area. The forest was also under Stage 2 fire restrictions, which prohibited the use of campfires or stove fires, including charcoal and smoking. Officials also issued an emergency order prohibiting recreational shooting in response to elevated fire danger conditions. The cause of the fire was under investigation. For more information on evacuation orders, residents can look to the Arizona Emergency Information Network or get updates on the Coronado National Forest Facebook page. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cody Fire 90% contained after burning 1.2K acres in Pinal County