Grand Canyon fire that was left to burn swells 50% after destroying historic lodge, World News
The so-called Dragon Bravo Fire swelled to 8,570 acres after burning the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and 70 other structures, including tourist cabins and park staff housing over the weekend, a spokesperson for the incident team said.
Local media reported around 280 National Park Service workers lost their housing in the blaze sparked by lightning on July 4.
"It's just like perfect tinder-dry for a fire," said spokesperson Stefan La-Sky of record-low tree moisture in ponderosa pine and fir forest on the North Rim.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has demanded an independent investigation into why National Park Service staff let the fire burn during the driest time of the summer in a botched attempt to reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health.
The National Park Service said it initially treated the fire with a "confine and contain" strategy to allow for the natural role of fire to reduce fuel accumulations, stimulate new plant growth and help regulate insects and disease.
It switched to an "aggressive full suppression strategy" after strong northwest winds on July 11, uncommon to the area, drove the fire towards park buildings on the edge of the canyon, according to the InciWeb US government wildfire site.
The blaze was the second so-called managed wildfire on the North Rim in as many decades to have raged out of control.
The Warm Fire in 2006 was allowed to burn for weeks following a lightning strike before high winds sent it out of control, briefly trapping hundreds of tourists and park workers before they were evacuated. It went on to burn 59,000 acres, much of it severely.
The North Rim of the park will remain closed for the rest of the 2025 season, which runs to October, and inner canyon trails and campgrounds are closed until further notice, the National Park Service said. The South Rim of the park, which attracts around five million visitors annually, remains open.
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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Today in Pictures, July 16, 2025
The sun rising, partially obscured by smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, as seen from Mather Point on the canyon's South Rim in Arizona on July 15, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- AsiaOne
Grand Canyon fire that was left to burn swells 50% after destroying historic lodge, World News
A wildfire in tinder-dry forest on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon grew around 50 per cent on Tuesday (July 15) after it destroyed dozens of buildings, prompting public outrage that it was left to burn for a week before firefighters tried to fully extinguish it. The so-called Dragon Bravo Fire swelled to 8,570 acres after burning the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and 70 other structures, including tourist cabins and park staff housing over the weekend, a spokesperson for the incident team said. Local media reported around 280 National Park Service workers lost their housing in the blaze sparked by lightning on July 4. "It's just like perfect tinder-dry for a fire," said spokesperson Stefan La-Sky of record-low tree moisture in ponderosa pine and fir forest on the North Rim. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has demanded an independent investigation into why National Park Service staff let the fire burn during the driest time of the summer in a botched attempt to reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health. The National Park Service said it initially treated the fire with a "confine and contain" strategy to allow for the natural role of fire to reduce fuel accumulations, stimulate new plant growth and help regulate insects and disease. It switched to an "aggressive full suppression strategy" after strong northwest winds on July 11, uncommon to the area, drove the fire towards park buildings on the edge of the canyon, according to the InciWeb US government wildfire site. The blaze was the second so-called managed wildfire on the North Rim in as many decades to have raged out of control. The Warm Fire in 2006 was allowed to burn for weeks following a lightning strike before high winds sent it out of control, briefly trapping hundreds of tourists and park workers before they were evacuated. It went on to burn 59,000 acres, much of it severely. The North Rim of the park will remain closed for the rest of the 2025 season, which runs to October, and inner canyon trails and campgrounds are closed until further notice, the National Park Service said. The South Rim of the park, which attracts around five million visitors annually, remains open. [[nid:720197]]
CNA
12-07-2025
- CNA
Tourists, residents evacuated from Grand Canyon due to wildfires
LOS ANGELES: Fast-spreading wildfires have forced the evacuation of part of the Grand Canyon, with the US National Park Service ordering visitors and residents away from its northern rim. "Due to the advancing Dragon Bravo Fire within Grand Canyon National Park, all North Rim residents are now in 'GO' status and should evacuate the North Rim immediately," the National Park Service said in an X post on Friday afternoon (Jul 11). The Dragon Bravo Fire, which was sparked by lightning and has been burning since Jul 4, was 61ha in size Friday evening and zero per cent contained, a US government incident report said. Park Service staff had already cleared the North Rim, which is less popular with tourists than the South Rim, of some 500 visitors late Thursday. Day-use access to the area was also closed due to a larger blaze called the White Sage Fire, which was burning outside the Grand Canyon National Park. However, it was approaching Jacob Lake, Arizona, a small settlement known as the gateway to the North Rim. About 4,441ha have been scorched by the White Sage Fire, which is zero per cent contained, according to authorities, who released images of large columns of smoke rising above the scrubby desert. Jon Paxton, press officer for the Coconino County sheriff's office, told AFP that a hotel and some businesses had been emptied. "Most of the folks we evacuated were campers," he said. "This area is high desert and mostly open forest for camping." STARTED BY LIGHTNING The White Sage Fire was also started by lightning, during a thunderstorm on Jul 9. "Crews encountered very extreme fire behaviour due to the dry conditions (and) gusty and erratic winds inhibiting the ability for fire fighters to safely engage the fire," the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said. One of the greatest wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eating away at layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 30km wide and more than 1.6km deep. Park Service advised against any hiking into the canyon, due to extreme heat and wildfire smoke. A 67-year-old man died on Tuesday while attempting to reach the river in hot conditions. Last year, almost five million people visited the world-famous site.
