4 days ago
2 wildfires burning near Grand Canyon scorch over 24,000 acres of wilderness
Two wildfires burning roughly 30 miles apart have scorched more than 24,000 acres of forest near the Grand Canyon, according to state and federal fire officials.
As of the evening of July 12, the White Sage Fire had burned over 19,150 acres near the North Rim, while the Dragon Bravo Fire, burning to the south within Grand Canyon National Park, had charred 5,000 acres.
The fires drew over 300 fire personnel, and both remained 0% contained. They were both believed to be lightning caused, according to InciWeb.
They also prompted evacuations for much of the residents in the area, according to Grand Canyon park officials and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.
Here's what we know about the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire burning in northern Arizona.
The White Sage Fire near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has expanded to over 19,000 acres, prompting evacuations for nearby residents, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
As of the morning of July 12, the BLM reported the fire had grown to 19,153 acres, with firefighters still unable to establish containment.
The BLM reported that both ground crews and aircraft were being used to fight the fire, with approximately 230 personnel assigned to the incident.
Evacuation orders were issued on July 11, affecting multiple communities in the area, according to a news release from the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.
The evacuation zone spans a wide area north of the Grand Canyon, bounded by the Utah state line to the north, Grand Canyon National Park to the south, House Rock Valley Road/Buffalo Ranch Road to the east, and Kaibab National Forest to the west.
The entire region is under a "go" status, requiring all residents and visitors to evacuate immediately.
Fire crews urged the public to avoid the area. Highway 89A was closed at Fredonia and Bitter Springs.
According to InciWeb, the fire was sparked by lightning and intensified by strong winds and low relative humidity. It has burned through grass, shrubs, and native pinyon-juniper trees, the BLM reported.
The Dragon Bravo Fire also was burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, just south of the Basin, according to InciWeb.
Since igniting on July 4, the fire has burned 5,000 acres and remains at 0% containment.
Hot, dry, and windy conditions fueled its growth, with flames spreading through mixed conifer, aspen, and ponderosa pine forests, InciWeb reported.
"On the ground resources are now focusing on a full suppression strategy to protect structures in the North Rim developed area," read Grand Canyon Park officials on InciWeb.
Helicopters were deployed on July 12 to support firefighting efforts near Roaring Springs and Transept Canyons.
Evacuation orders were issued for North Rim residents on July 11, and the Grand Canyon's North Rim visitor center was closed.
By the evening of July 12, the North and South Kaibab Trails, along with Phantom Ranch, were closed due to a chlorine gas hazard.
Grand Canyon Park officials announced on X that all affected residents had been safely evacuated after the fire expanded rapidly overnight.
Contact reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on Instagram, X, Threads and Bluesky: @ReyCJrAZ.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's what we know about 2 wildfires burning in northern Arizona
