Latest news with #historiclandmark
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Dragon Bravo Fire destroys historic Grand Canyon lodge
A historic lodge was swallowed by flames and many of its structures were brought to rubble after a fast-moving wildfire erupted in Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging complex in the park's North Rim, has been ravaged by the Dragon Bravo Fire, park Superintendent Ed Keable announced on Sunday. Roughly 50 to 80 of the lodge's buildings were wrecked, including its visitor center, a gas station, its waste water treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing. 'Numerous' historic cabins in the area also were destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire - which first broke out on July 4 - the park revealed. Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. 'As stewards of some our country's most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,' lodge spokesperson Debbie Albert said. The lodge is a designated landmark that was built in 1928 by the Utah Parks Company. It has become known for its stunning architecture and its location, which offers sweeping views of the vast Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Lodge was often the first prominent feature that visitors see, even before viewing the canyon. 'It just feels like you're a pioneer when you walk through there [the lodge],' Tim Allen of Flagstaff said. 'It really felt like you were in a time gone heartbreaking.' Wildfires that grew more than 20 times from Saturday to Sunday forced hundreds to evacuate. A thick blanket of black smoke has consumed the Midwest after not just one, but two fires broke out within 30 miles from each other - bringing deadly chlorine gas with it. The White Sage Fire in Kaibab National Forest, and the Dragon Bravo Fire near Grand Canyon National Park, are still raging as of Sunday night. The White Sage Fire, which started on July 9, has already destroyed more than 20,000 acres of land and has not yet been contained, authorities said. By Sunday afternoon, this fire alone had charred 63 square miles of land. Meanwhile, the Dragon Bravo Fire 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 US 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. Parts of Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin and most of Minnesota are ranked 'unhealthy' for air quality on the US Environmental Protection Agency map. 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. 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 110F degrees as smoke continues to fly around from wind gusts. 'Not only is there dangerous heat at the lower levels of the Grand Canyon, but lots of smoke and high fire danger,' NWS Flagstaff said Saturday. 'Don't mess around.' A 67-year-old man tragically died on Wednesday while hiking in the Grand Canyon, the agency said. More than 200 firefighters and other personnel have been battling the blaze. Due to the gas leak from the Dragon Bravo Fire, officials evacuated firefighters from the North Rim and got hikers out of the inner canyon for their own safety. Park officials also told all Colorado River trips to avoid Phantom Ranch.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Historic Grand Canyon lodge destroyed by fast-moving wildfire
A historic lodge was swallowed by flames and many of its structures were brought to rubble after a fast-moving wildfire erupted in Arizona 's Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging complex in the park's North Rim, has been ravaged by the Dragon Bravo Fire, park Superintendent Ed Keable announced on Sunday. Roughly 50 to 80 of the lodge's buildings were wrecked, including its visitor center, a gas station, its waste water treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing. 'Numerous' historic cabins in the area also were destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire - which first broke out on July 4 - the park revealed. Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. 'As stewards of some our country's most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,' lodge spokesperson Debbie Albert said. The lodge is a designated landmark that was built in 1928 by the Utah Parks Company. It has become known for its stunning architecture and its location, which offers sweeping views of the vast Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Lodge was often the first prominent feature that visitors see, even before viewing the canyon. 'It just feels like you're a pioneer when you walk through there [the lodge],' Tim Allen of Flagstaff said. 'It really felt like you were in a time gone heartbreaking.' Wildfires that grew more than 20 times from Saturday to Sunday forced hundreds to evacuate. A thick blanket of black smoke has consumed the Midwest after not just one, but two fires broke out within 30 miles from each other - bringing deadly chlorine gas with it. The White Sage Fire in Kaibab National Forest, and the Dragon Bravo Fire near Grand Canyon National Park, are still raging as of Sunday night. The White Sage Fire, which started on July 9, has already destroyed more than 20,000 acres of land and has not yet been contained, authorities said. By Sunday afternoon, this fire alone had charred 63 square miles of land. Meanwhile, the Dragon Bravo Fire 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 US 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. Parts of Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin and most of Minnesota are ranked 'unhealthy' for air quality on the US Environmental Protection Agency map. 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. 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 110F degrees as smoke continues to fly around from wind gusts. 'Not only is there dangerous heat at the lower levels of the Grand Canyon, but lots of smoke and high fire danger,' NWS Flagstaff said Saturday. 'Don't mess around.' A 67-year-old man tragically died on Wednesday while hiking in the Grand Canyon, the agency said. More than 200 firefighters and other personnel have been battling the blaze. Due to the gas leak from the Dragon Bravo Fire, officials evacuated firefighters from the North Rim and got hikers out of the inner canyon for their own safety. Park officials also told all Colorado River trips to avoid Phantom Ranch.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Group tries to stop state from demolishing famed Hawaii staircase that has become popular with influencers
A Hawaii court is being asked to reverse the city of Honolulu's decision to demolish the Haʻikū Stairs, an iconic historical landmark popular among influencers — despite being illegal to hike. A lawsuit was filed in district court on Thursday by the Friends of Haʻikū Stairs, a nonprofit lobbying to retain the 50-year-old mountain path on O'ahu instead of tearing it down, the Honolulu Civil Beat reported. The city of Honolulu has been trying to demolish the scenic structure, also known as the 'Stairway to Heaven,' since 2021 over safety concerns, liability issues and expensive security costs. The famed stairs were built in World War II as part of a top-secret naval radio project, but have since become a contentious issue. While the stairs were closed in 1987 and are considered illegal to climb, countless hikers still flock to them to take in the breathtaking views. The new lawsuit asks the court to permanently halt the decision made by the State Historic Preservation Division, a branch of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, under Hawai'i statutes. The filing claims the state failed to have the city 'conduct adequate historic and archaeological surveys of the full project area' and let the city reject 'a viable alternative to preserve the Stairs.' The lawsuit cites a 2019 letter to the city, in which the historic division said it hoped to preserve and restore the damaged section of the staircase. '[The state's] preferred alternative would be to keep the Haʻikū Stairs and … and restore the damaged section of the stairs,' the letter read. However, years later, in April of 2024, the state changed course, writing to the city that demolition could proceed. The lawsuit argues that the letter didn't adequately explain the change in stance. 'We just think that [the state's] rapid shift from preservation to demolition without explaining or doing any of the steps necessary under state law was fundamentally wrong and voids the whole process,' Justin Scorza, vice president of the Friends of Haʻikū Stairs, said on Monday. The Friends of Haʻikū Stairs previously appealed the letter with the Hawai'i Historic Places Review Board, but it lacked a quorum to rule on the legality of the letter, Scorza said. City spokesperson Ian Scheuring told the outlet the city was confident the Circuit Court didn't have jurisdiction over the case, and expects the lawsuit to be dismissed. The decision to demolish the stairs was officially made in September 2021 by Honolulu city officials. It was expected to take six months and cost $2.6 million, but in August 2023 the Friends of Haʻikū Stairs asked a court to stop the plan. While the nonprofit lost that decision, a temporary injunction was placed on the project in June 2024. In February of this year, Honolulu filed for an expedited appeal decision, claiming it cost nearly $2 million to pay police overtime to guard the steps from June to December last year. Over 120 arrests were made for trespassing during that same time period, according to the report. Despite officials' concerns over the structure's safety, no one has ever died climbing the stairs. About 200 hikers have been rescued off the trail between 2010 and 2022, the report said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse gutted by baby-faced arsonists one year after $3.4 million restoration: ‘Heartbreaking'
Now they're in deep ship. A group of baby-faced arsonists burned and gutted Sleepy Hollow's beloved historic lighthouse just a year after its multi-million dollar renovation, police said Wednesday. Four young suspects hopped a locked fence leading to the charming red-and-white landmark at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday then smashed a window and climbed into the 142-year-old structure, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary told The Post. The twisted firebugs then allegedly lit parts of the bottom floor, which is set up as a museum, on fire and damaged antique furniture and books — leaving behind smoldering ash, broken glass and more than $100,000 in damage, officials said. 'Setting a fire and trashing a place is bad enough. It's also one of the county's more iconic places,' O'Leary said. 'It's a cherished landmark,' he added. 'Everybody in Westchester is really upset about it.' Outraged locals have since flooded police with tips after cops released a photo of the alleged arsonists strolling over a bridge leading to the lighthouse, O'Leary said. The wild vandalism comes a year after the county unveiled a $3.4 million renovation of the lighthouse's interior — including a restoration of the historic spotlight that guided ships away from the banks of the Hudson River for decades. Built in 1883, the lighthouse at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow once housed a family and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 'It's disappointing, and it's heartbreaking to see this kind of damage that was just completely unnecessary,' Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in News 12 footage. A Westchester County employee first spotted smoke wafting from the beloved landmark Saturday morning, prompting firefighters to rush to the blaze. The lighthouse is now temporarily closed for repairs. 'There have been weddings and proposals there and it's more recently become an Instagram spot,' O'Leary said. 'There's been a strong reaction to the vandalism.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
3 teens arrested for trashing, burning historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse in ‘heartbreaking' fire
Three teens have been arrested for trashing and setting fire to the beloved historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse in a 'heartbreaking' attack just a year after its multimillion-dollar renovation, according to officials. Baby-faced firebugs Elvin Ayavaca, 18, of White Plains and Richard Barrero, 19, of Harrison, along with an unidentified 17-year-old, caused at least $100,000 in damage to the charming 142-year-old landmark, the Westchester County Police said in a press release Friday. The trio was charged with arson, burglary and criminal mischief after getting caught on camera strolling over a bridge leading to the lighthouse Saturday, according to police. A fourth suspect is still at large. The young suspects are accused of hopping a locked fence at the 'cherished' lighthouse at around 3:30 a.m., then smashing a window and climbing into the towering red-and-white structure. Once inside, they allegedly lit parts of the bottom floor, which is set up as a museum, and damaged antique furniture and at least 35 precious books. The vandalism came a year after the county unveiled a $3.4 million renovation of the lighthouse's interior, including a restoration of its historic spotlight. The destruction sparked local outrage and plenty of police tips, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary told The Post on Wednesday. The teens were arraigned in Sleepy Hollow Village Court on the felony charges, according to police, who said they aren't naming the 17-year-old because he's a juvenile. Built in 1883, the lighthouse at Kingsland Point Park once housed a family on the banks of the Hudson River and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 'It's disappointing, and it's heartbreaking to see this kind of damage that was just completely unnecessary,' Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in News 12 footage earlier this week. O'Leary added of the lighthouse, 'It's a cherished landmark. 'Everybody in Westchester is really upset about it.'
