Arizona firefighters are battling two fast-moving blazes that destroyed a historic lodge and dozens of other structures in the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
The flames from two wildfires – the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire – have prompted officials to close the famous tourist destination for the remainder of the 2025 season.
The iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim, was torched by the Dragon Bravo Fire over the weekend.
‘Numerous’ historic cabins in the area also were destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire – which first broke out on July 4 from lightning strikes.
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 White Sage Fire, which began on July 9, has already destroyed more than 20,000 acres of land and remains uncontained, authorities said.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has called on the federal government to investigate the National Park Service’s response to the wildfire.
Historic Grand Canyon lodge destroyed in blaze
The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim, was consumed by the flames from the Bravo Dragon Fire.
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 by…It’s heartbreaking.’
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.
WATCH: Smoke from Grand Canyon wildfires cover the Midwest
A thick blanket of black smoke has consumed the Midwest after two fires broke out within 30 miles from each other – bringing deadly chlorine gas with it.
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.
Arizona Governor calls for federal investigation into wildfire response
Governor Katie Hobbs called on the federal government late Sunday to investigate the National Park Service’s response to the wildfire.
‘They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage,’ she said in a post on X.
‘But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.’
Grand Canyon’s North Rim ravaged by two massive blazes
Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim, known as the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The latter is the one that impacted the lodge and other structures.
Started by lightning on July 4, the Dragon Bravo Fire was initially managed by authorities with a ‘confine and contain’ strategy to clear fuel sources.
They shifted to aggressive suppression a week later, as the fire rapidly grew to 7.8 square miles due to hot temperatures, low humidity and strong wind gusts, fire officials said.
Approximately 45,000 acres of land have been destroyed by the fires as of Sunday, with no reported injuries.
Park Superintendent Ed Keable said the visitor center, the gas station, a wastewater treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing were among the 50 to 80 structures lost.
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Grand Canyon wildfires live: Mayhem as fast flames torch north rim at America’s most famous tourist destination
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