Arizona wildfire that burned Grand Canyon lodge closes North Rim for rest of 2025 season: Live updates
National Park Service officials in Arizona opted to observe the Dragon Bravo fire rather than extinguish it after it was discovered last week. They changed their approach on July 11 and 12 when high winds in the region allowed the fire to escape the 'containment features' that park officials hoped would keep the blaze at bay.
'The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening of July 12, resulting in a 500-acre expansion,' the National Park Service said in a Monday update. 'Fire managers have confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins in the developed area.'
As of Monday, the fire has grown to 3,471 acres.
Approximately 50 to 80 structures at Grand Canyon National Park have been destroyed, and thousands of visitors and firefighters in the area have been ordered to evacuate.
Along with the White Sage fire, which is also burning in the region, a total of 45,000 acres has been burned as of July 13.
WATCH: Dragon Bravo Fire destroys historic North Rim lodge
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 19:32
North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park to remain closed for duration of 2025 season
The National Parks Service announced today that the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will remain closed for the rest of its 2025 operating season.
The Dragon Bravo fire burned the historic Grand Canyon Lodge as well as numerous park buildings and cabins.
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 19:05
Difficult terrain, remote campers make evacuation and fire containment difficult for Arizona fire fighters
Dolores Garcia, a spokesperson for the Arizona Bureau of Land Management, told FOX 10 Phoenix that the rugged terrain near the Grand Canyon made it difficult for firefighters to get into place to fight the White Sage wildfire.
"Especially in terrain that may be a little bit more rough and a little bit more difficult for firefighters to get into or may take a little bit more time for them to get into," she said.
Garcia also revealed that state officials had to track down campers at remote campsites to ensure they received evacuation notices.
"Early in the phases of the earliest evacuations, we were having to go to campsites and some of the dispersed camping areas to assist with the evacuation and make some of those notifications," she said.
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 19:00
Company operating Grand Canyon Lodge issued statement after wildfire consumes historic building
The Grand Canyon Lodge was operated by a company called Aramark for the National Parks Service.
The company issued a statement acknowledging the burning of the lodge.
"We are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous other historic buildings at the Grand Canyon's North Rim," Debbie Albert, an Aramark spokesperson, said. "We are grateful that all of our employees and guests have been safely evacuated, and we join the National Park Service in mourning the loss of these iconic and beloved structures."
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 18:30
WATCH: Dragon Bravo Fire destroys historic North Rim lodge
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 18:00
'The stakes are life and death': The US is not prepared for wildfire season after sweeping DOGE cuts, report says
As summer temperatures begin to rise and another dangerous wildfire season looms, a new report warns the U.S. is underprepared due to sweeping budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
Federal agencies are grappling with reduced workforces, diminished resources, and weakened emergency infrastructure just as extreme summer heat and drought are taking hold of many states out West. Experts and current firefighters say the situation is dire.
'If this turns out to be a major fire year, it's going to be a s*** show,' Dr. Hugh Safford, a fire ecologist and former U.S. Forest Service (USFS) official, told The Guardian. Safford spent more than two decades working for the service before retiring in 2021.
The stakes are life and death: US not prepared for wildfires after DOGE cuts: report
Forecasters predict above-average fire potential this year across California, Montana, Texas, and much of the Pacific Northwest
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 17:30
LOOK: National Parks Service shares a map showing the Dragon Bravo fire's expansion
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 17:00
Governor Katie Hobbs says she's "saddened" by the widfire destruction, calls for federal investigation
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said she was 'saddened' by the Dragon Bravo wildfire's destruction of historic buildings — including the Grand Canyon Lodge — at Grand Canyon National Park.
'I am incredibly saddened by the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and my heart goes out to every person impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon's North Rim,' she wrote on X. 'Thank you to every firefighter and first responder taking action to combat the flames.'
She then called into question the initial response by federal authorities after lightning ignited Dragon Bravo fire on July 4:
'An incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government's emergency response. They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage. But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.'
'While the flame was started with a lightning strike, the federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer. I am calling on the federal government for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the management of the Fire and a report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome.'
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 16:30
Senator calls for an investigation into National Parks Service's early fire response
Senator Ruben Gallego and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said they planned to investigate the National Parks Service's early response to the Drago Bravo fire to determine what impact, if any, it had on the blaze's eventually spread.
'Because of the Dragon Bravo Fire, Arizona lost more than a historic lodge, it lost a piece of our state history,' Gallego wrote on X. 'As Governor Hobbs has rightly called for, there must be a comprehensive, independent investigation into the handling of fire and the rationale for treating it as a controlled burn— especially as Arizona experiences the driest, hardest part of summer. I will do my part on the federal level to get answers.'
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 16:00
Closures announced at Grand Canyon National Park
The Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires have prompted closures across the northern edge of Grand Canyon National Park.
The closures include call of the inner corridor hiking trails, all campgrounds and all other interior areas including the North and South Kaibab Trails, the Phantom Ranch, and Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens, according to the NPS.
Graig Graziosi14 July 2025 15:30
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Dagenham wildfire and two other grass fires under investigation
More than two hundred firefighters tackled three separate grass fires in east London on Monday residents in Dagenham were asked to temporarily leave their homes after eight hectares (20 acres) of grass, shrubland and trees, fences and garden furniture caught alight near Beam beaters were later used to tackle flames that destroyed an area of grassland near Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, while firefighters brought a third fire under control at Walthamstow flames have been put out and the causes of the fires are under investigation, as London Fire Brigade (LFB) warns it could be a "challenging summer" due to warm and dry weather conditions. About 125 firefighters tackled the largest incident in Dagenham, which came close to reaching neighbouring commander Matt Hayward said: "Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby properties."The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture. Jets and wildfire beaters were used to stop flames reaching the properties, Mr Hayward added that fire breaks installed by the local authority had been important in preventing the fire spreading to residential brigade said that while three such fires in one evening had been "a lot" for firefighters, it was not unheard of and that crews were preparing for more incidents like these."All of our firefighters have been undergoing enhanced wildfire response training in preparation for what could be another challenging summer," LFB has urged Londoners to act "responsibly" to prevent further incidents. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," an LFB spokesperson London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties."In particular, people are being reminded not to use disposable barbecues in parks of fields or to use them on wooden decking in private areas.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Wildfire erupts in east London
A 19-acre wildfire erupted in east London on Monday night, prompting homes to be evacuated. The conflagration on bone-dry scrubland near Clemence Road, Dagenham, was tackled by 125 firemen and 20 fire engines. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) ordered locals to keep doors and windows shut because of intense smoke billowing from the flames. The fire started at 6.30pm and quickly spread across grass, shrubs, trees, fences and garden furniture. The LFB deployed an off-road wildfire response vehicle, beaters and hoses to the fire, the cause of which is not yet known. A spokesman said that properties had been evacuated 'as a precaution' and advised people to avoid the area due to road closures. The fire service were then called to a 14-acre grass wildfire in nearby Hornchurch at 8.10pm. It dispatched 60 firemen and eight fire engines to the blaze, the cause of which is still unknown. In 2022, a wildfire destroyed around 20 homes in the nearby village of Wennington during a heatwave.
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Sky News
Homes evacuated as wildfire breaks out in east London
Several homes had to be evacuated in east London after a wildfire broke out on Monday. London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that 20 fire engines and around 125 firefighters were called to the scene behind Clemence Road in Dagenham at 6.30pm. In a statement, LFB said eight hectares of grass, shrubland and trees were destroyed, and nearby residents were told to leave as a precaution. Footage captured by drones, and posted on X, showed the aftermath of the fire, with a large section of grassland turned to ash. Smoke could also be seen rising over still-smouldering areas where fire crews were continuing to spray water. Station Commander Matt Hayward said: "The fire had reached some garden fences, sheds and garden furniture. As well as our jets, we used wildfire beaters to beat the flames and stop them from reaching the properties. "We also thank Barking and Dagenham Council who had put fire breaks in place, which helped stop the fire from reaching the properties." A wildfire response vehicle, with specialist equipment to quickly tackle fire on open ground, was deployed. Two additional grass fire incidents also required LFB resources on Monday night in different parts of the capital. Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called at 8.10pm to a grass fire near Wingletye Lane in Hornchurch. Crews used beaters to extinguish the flames. Around eight hectares of grassland were destroyed there. Meanwhile, a third grass fire on Walthamstow Marshes in northeast London reported at 8.55pm saw LFB deploy eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters. In that incident, three hectares of grassland were destroyed. While no details were given about the potential cause of the fire, LFB warned that "it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly". A spokesperson said in a statement: "If you're heading out, please don't take a disposable BBQ with you. Also make sure you are discarding of cigarettes properly and take rubbish home with you if no bins are available. "At home, make sure your BBQ is positioned away from flammable items like fences, sheds, decking and trees and please don't have any type of BBQ on your balcony. "We're also strongly advising people to avoid burning any waste in this type of weather and to not have bonfires, particularly in their gardens."
