Grand Canyon wildfire blankets Midwest with chlorine gas
The White Sage Fire, which started on July 9, has already scorched more than 20,000 acres of land and has not yet been contained, authorities said. Meanwhile, the Dragon Bravo Fire, which exploded on July 4, is also not contained as it continues to threaten historic structures in the area and animals. The out of control blaze also caused the park's water treatment plant to go up in flames. Because of that, chlorine gas has been released into the air, officials confirmed after firefighters responded to the scene on the North Rim around 3.30pm Saturday.
Chlorine gas is toxic and heavier than air, making it easier for it to settle in lower elevations like the inner canyon where river rafters and hikers frequent. The fires are believed to have started by lightning and thunderstorms, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The blazes have forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes and the national park to close until further notice.
Locals have been left panicked and fearful of the damage the fires have already left and what is to come. 'Holding back the tears this evening. The Dragon Bravo Fire is raging east and has now burned structures in Grand Canyon National Park,' one resident said alongside a dark image with bright orange and red flames flying high in the back. 'We've been watching it in real time from our front porch,' another posted. 'Super sad.'
'Fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes. We're living in perilous times,' someone else wrote. Another commenter said: 'Scary how fast nature can turn dangerous. Stay safe, Arizona.' 'That's a significant impact during peak season. Hope the wildfire is contained soon and everyone stays safe,' a user wrote.
Not only are fires raging on in Arizona, but smoke from the Canadian wildfires continued to cover much of the Upper Midwest Saturday evening. Currently, parts of Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin and most of Minnesota are ranked 'unhealthy' for air quality on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency map. The part of North Dakota that is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is specifically at risk because of its 'very unhealthy' air quality levels.
The North Rim, the North Kaibab Trail, the South Kaibab Trail and the Phantom Ranch areas remain closed as of Sunday morning due to the gas leak. The South Rim remains open, the Park Service said. The billowing smoke comes at a time when summer activities are meant to be in full effect in the area, including people enjoying the lakes and many trails. Meanwhile, Coconino County authorities 'issued evacuation notices for areas north and south of Jacob Lake,' as well as 'the North Rim of the Grand Canyon Nation Park,' per the Bureau of Land Management.
On Friday, nearly 500 visitors were evacuated from the area while residents and park employees were told to shelter in place, officials said on X. Melinda Rich Marshall, who runs the Jacob Lake in Fredonia - about three miles from the White Sage Fire - had to scramble to protect her guests and business. She quickly evacuated everyone, including employees and artifacts, Marshall told NBC News. 'Emotions sort of go up and down,' she said, adding that a caretaker stayed behind to keep an eye on the premises until it is no longer safe enough to do so. 'There are definitely things that we left and that we couldn't take, but we're so grateful that all of the people were accounted for all of our employees made it safely,' Marshall said.
Since she began tracking the enormous blaze on Friday, it has doubled in size. 'We had been told it was about 1,000 acres. That makes it really unpredictable and really hard to contain, and that's part of what makes those emotions go kind of all over the place,' she explained. Those affected have been urged to take the necessary precautions to stay away from the intense smoke and flames. Residents have been told to limit their time outdoors, to keep windows closed, and run air purifiers - especially for those with lung conditions, asthma, and the elderly. In addition to the raging wildfires, park officials and forecasters have warned of dangerously hot conditions over the next few days. Temperatures are expected to reach over 110°F degrees as smoke continues to fly around from wind gusts.
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