
Grand Canyon blaze burns historic lodge, sparks calls for investigation
The Dragon Bravo Fire, caused by a lightning strike inside the park July 4, was zero percent contained as of Monday, according to InciWeb, a government fire-tracking website. It described Dragon Bravo as 'very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts.'
Park Superintendent Ed Keable told park residents and staff in a meeting Sunday that a visitor center, gas station, water treatment plant and the historic Grand Canyon Lodge are among 50 to 80 structures destroyed by the fire so far, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Advertisement
Historic cabins, staff housing and an administrative building were also lost, but no serious injuries or deaths have been reported.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Washington Post
33 minutes ago
- Washington Post
System over Florida has potential to develop into tropical depression, weather service says
ORLANDO, Fla. — A drenching weather system moving across Florida on Tuesday wasn't even a tropical anything but has the potential to develop into a tropical depression as it moves into the northeastern and northern Gulf later in the week, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The system would be called Tropical Storm Dexter if it became a named storm, but it was expected to be far less lethal than the namesake vigilante serial killer of the Showtime crime drama, 'Dexter' which was set in Florida.

Associated Press
40 minutes ago
- Associated Press
System over Florida has potential to develop into tropical depression, weather service says
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A drenching weather system moving across Florida on Tuesday wasn't even a tropical anything but has the potential to develop into a tropical depression as it moves into the northeastern and northern Gulf later in the week, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The system would be called Tropical Storm Dexter if it became a named storm, but it was expected to be far less lethal than the namesake vigilante serial killer of the Showtime crime drama, 'Dexter' which was set in Florida. The National Weather Service said the area of low pressure off Florida's east coast was becoming better defined and moving west across the Florida Peninsula on Tuesday. The system was drenching the peninsula with heavy rains, and the weather service warned of the potential for flash flooding in parts of the state through the middle of the week. 'Environmental conditions appear generally favorable for additional development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle to latter part of this week as the system moves across the northeastern and north-central Gulf,' the National Weather Service said. How many storms have we had so far? Just six weeks into the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, three tropical storms have developed — Andrea, Barry and Chantal. Dexter would be the fourth if it develops that way. Andrea dissipated in the Atlantic after forming at sea last month. Barry dumped rain on eastern Mexico at the end of last month. Chantal made landfall in South Carolina last week, and its remnants caused flooding in North Carolina that killed an 83-year-old woman when her car was swept off a rural road. Floodwaters also forced dozens of people to flee their homes in North Carolina. How many Atlantic storms are predicted this season? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May forecast 13 to 19 named storms, with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Colorado State University researchers last month estimated there would be 17 named storms this year, with nine of them becoming hurricanes. Of the predicted hurricanes, the researchers said four could become major hurricanes. 'Weather modification' reports required in Florida With hurricane season on Floridians' minds, state Attorney General James Uthmeier this week sent a letter to the state's airports telling them that they must report the presence of any aircraft used for the purposes of 'weather modification' starting in October to comply with a new Florida law. After flash floods killed scores of Texas residents over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, social media users spread false claims that the devastation was caused by weather modification. Many pointed to one process in particular, blaming cloud seeding performed on July 2 by a California-based company for the tragedy. But officials say there is no evidence that the floods are the result of cloud seeding and experts agree that cloud seeding would not result in precipitation of this magnitude. Uthmeier said at a news conference on Tuesday that 'this stuff sounds pretty scary to me.' 'My letter was to put airports on notice that they do have obligations and could face penalties, including some criminal penalties, if they don't comply,' Uthmeier said. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2 Arizona wildfires grow as they ravage Grand Canyon's North Rim
The White Sage and Dragon Bravo fires together have burned nearly 60,000 acres, while only miles away from each other on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As of about 9 a.m. on July 15, the White Sage Fire spread across 51,922 acres, while the Dragon Bravo Fire spread to over 8,000 acres and destroyed historic structures, according to InciWeb, a federal wildfire tracker. Both of the fires remained 0% contained. Here's what we know about the continued growth of the fires and what might be next for firefighters. The White Sage Fire, roughly 30 miles north of the Dragon Bravo Fire, has burned 51,922 acres and was 0% contained after it was ignited due to a lightning strike, according to InciWeb. "Over the past few days, the White Sage Fire has exhibited extreme fire behavior," wrote fire officials in a July 15 morning update. Fire officials said 572 personnel were battling the fire. The approximate 2,600-acre increase was "significantly less" than before, according to the update. On July 14, the fire continued to spread through the scar of the 2020 Magnum Fire, where invasive cheatgrass acted as perfect fuel for the fire. Firefighters on the west side of the fire maintained a fire line and were transitioning into suppression efforts, the update added. Firefighters also traveled directly to the north portion of the fire and established more control lines, but they saw increased fire activity in the northwestern portion due to shifting winds and dry grass in the area, the update said. Firefighters were hindered by dry thunderstorms that evening, which limited air attack crews, who are critical to suppression efforts from the air, according to InciWeb. A vast area, the Kaibab Plateau from the Utah-Arizona line down to the Grand Canyon, was placed under evacuation orders. Fire crews urged the public to avoid the area. Highway 89A was closed at Fredonia and Bitter Springs. About 30 miles to the south, the Dragon Bravo Fire engulfed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, and at least 70 structures on July 12, according to Stefan La-Sky, public information officer for the Southwest Incident Management Team. On July 15, the fire had burned 8,570 acres and was still 0% contained, according to La-Sky. Over 360 personnel were battling the fire, he added. Six helicopters, including three heavy variants able to carry more water, were now on-site, La-Sky also said. Firefighters focused on areas near Roaring Springs, with some crews specifically assigned to structure protection, according to La-Sky He said that the fire threat to nearby Phantom Ranch was "significantly reduced." A hazmat situation caused by a chlorine leak from a water treatment plant was resolved, as crews found no detectable levels of the toxic chemicals in the area, fire officials said in an update. Do you have photos or video of the Grand Canyon Lodge to share on We'd love to see them and share with readers. Send it to us at our video-photo upload site. The National Weather Service office in Flagstaff noted July 15 that the area was expected to see a chance of gusty winds and dry lightning in the area, both of which aggravate fire conditions. Chances of actual rain, including hail, were at their highest on Thursday, according to the Weather Service. Thunderstorms prevent air attack crews, which are commonly used in the remote areas of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, from reaching the fires. If rain made its way to the area, there was also a threat of flash flooding in sensitive areas and recent burn scars, according to the Weather Service. Contact reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Wildfires in AZ: Dragon Bravo, White Sage fires burn nearly 60K acres