Historic Grand Canyon Lodge destroyed in wildfires: What to know
Two major wildfires, the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire, are currently burning in Arizona near the Grand Canyon. These fires, ignited by lightning strikes in early July, have led too significant destruction, including the loss of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, which was built in 1937 and was the only hotel inside the park. As of mid-July, the Dragon Bravo Fire has burned about 5,000 acres, while the White Sage Fire has consumed over 40,000 acres. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered, and the National Park’s north Rim along with surrounding public lands remain closed to visitors for safety reasons.
Firefighters continue battling both fires, though containment stands at 0%. Officials emphasize protecting nearby communities such as White Sage,lonesome,and Jacob Lake as strong winds and dry conditions pose ongoing challenges. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has called for a federal investigation into the fire management decisions, noting that although lightning sparked the fires, federal agencies had managed the initial blaze as a controlled burn despite extreme summer dryness.
Additionally, the Billy Fire is burning in Tonto National Forest, and Arizona officials now acknowledge wildfires occur year-round rather than in a defined season. Similar fires are also affecting California, underscoring the extended wildfire risks in the region.
Historic Grand Canyon Lodge destroyed as wildfires rage in Arizona: What to know
Firefighters are continuing to combat wildfires in Arizona that have destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and forced the closure of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
The two wildfires blazing near the Grand Canyon, the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire, were ignited naturally by lightning strikes. The Dragon Bravo Fire began on July 4, while the White Sage Fire began on July 9, according to InciWeb, a real-time incident information system service.
Here’s everything you need to know about the wildfires in Arizona.
Where are the fires located?
The Dragon Bravo Fire is located along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, while the White Sage Fire is 15 miles southeast of Fredonia.
How much have they burned?
As of Monday afternoon, the Dragon Bravo Fire spanned 5,000 acres, while the White Sage Fire spanned 40,186 acres.
The fires are also responsible for destroying the Grand Canyon Lodge, a beloved historic landmark built in 1937, according to the National Park Service. The lodge, the only hotel located within the park, reportedly succumbed to the flames of the Dragon Bravo Fire on Sunday.
Aside from the lodge, the fires have destroyed between 50 and 80 other structures.
What has the emergency response been?
As of Sunday, the Dragon Bravo Fire was 0% contained. As of Monday, the White Sage Fire is also 0% contained.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for North Rim residents on July 11, and the area remains closed to visitors. Public lands in the area of the White Sage Fire have also been closed since July 11, according to an announcement online.
One of the main objectives for combating the White Sage Fire is to continue protecting structures and infrastructure in the communities of White Sage, Lonesome, and Jacob Lake, according to InciWeb.
Weather remains a concern as the area continues to experience low relative humidity and strong, gusty winds capable of furthering the spread of the flames.
Investigation into the fires
Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) called on the federal government on Sunday to begin an investigation into the fires, saying in a post on X that “Arizonans deserve answers” for how the fire became so bad.
“While the flame was started with a lightning strike, the federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer,” Hobbs wrote. “I am calling on the federal government for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the management of the Fire and a report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome.”
Other wildfires in the region
In addition to the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire, the Billy Fire is also burning in the Tonto National Forest 15 miles south of Young, Arizona. Also ignited from a lightning strike, the blaze spans 752 acres and was 0% contained as of Monday.
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While it’s been recognized that peak fire activity occurs in Arizona from mid-June to early July before the beginning of monsoon season, that is no longer believed to be true. Wildfires in Arizona are now believed to occur year-round, and there is no longer a designated wildfire season for the state, so more blazes could be on the horizon, according to Arizona’s Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
In California, the Juniper and Wolf fires were two of the latest wildfires to rip across the state, burning for over three days and destroying over 3,000 acres of land. Wildfire season in California doesn’t end until around October, though fires can also occur year-round.
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