ONE of the Grand Canyon’s most famous landmarks has burned down after wildfires tore through the iconic park.
Dubbed the “Dragon Bravo Fire,” the National Park Service said that 50 to 80 structures were lost this weekend due to the blaze that has spread over 5,700 acres.
The site was the only lodging area on the North Rim[/caption]
The lodge is one of the 50-80 buildings destroyed in the blaze[/caption]
Arizona’s governor has called for an investigation into the fire after the lodge burned down[/caption]
One of those buildings was the Grand Canyon Lodge, a prized location in the North Rim.
The structure, known for its unique architecture, was the only lodging in the northern rim.
It was also one of the first sights many visitors would see when visiting the national park.
“As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,” spokesperson Debbie Albert said.
The lodge first opened in 1928, but suffered a similar fate just years later due to a cigarette fire.
The rebuild was finished in 1937, according to AZ Family.
Other buildings destroyed in the fires included a visitor center, gas station, water treatment plant, offices, and employee housing.
The destruction of the water treatment plant caused a chlorine gas leak, which also led to a slowdown in containment efforts as crews could not work nearby or drop aerial retardant.
The quick-moving blaze has now shut down the area for the rest of the season, according to the National Park Service.
“The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy,” the NPS said.
“Fire behavior is still very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts.”
No injuries were reported, and visitors and crews were evacuated before fires tore through the area.
Firefighting crews struggled to contain it due to “large growth at night, when aerial resources are unable to conduct retardant and water drops.”
The Dragon Bravo Fire started on the Fourth of July after a lightning strike, according to the parks service.
Locations closed due to fire
Alongside the North Rim’s closure for the rest of the season, the National Parks Service announced additional shutdowns for the following areas in the park.
- North Kaibab Trail
- South Kaibab Trail
- Phantom Ranch
- Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens
Source: National Parks Service
But Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has called for an investigation into the fire that burned down the lodge, saying that “an incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government’s emergency response.”
“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,” she said on X.
“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.”
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego also called for a probe into the incident.
“As Governor Hobbs has rightly called for, there must be a comprehensive, independent investigation into the handling of fire and the rationale for treating it as a controlled burn — especially as Arizona experiences the driest, hardest part of summer,” he wrote on X.
“I will do my part on the federal level to get answers.”
Another blaze named the White Sage Fire also rages on in the park. It has covered over 49,000 acres, with 0% containment as of Sunday.
The fire has burned over 5,700 acres[/caption]
