Grand Canyon fire burns dozens of buildings, historic lodge

A wildfire on the Grand Canyon’s north rim covered 5,716 acres on Monday and was 0% contained, according to a federal fire-tracking website. It consumed 70 structures on the north rim over the weekend, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Officials closed large portions of Grand Canyon National Park while 295 personnel fought the blaze on both day and nighttime shifts, according to the federal fire tracker. All staff and residents of the area were evacuated by Saturday, according to the park service.

In addition to the lodge, the fire destroyed housing for National Park Service employees, cabins, and administrative offices, according to a news release. Hazmat teams were working on Monday to contain the effects of a chlorine gas leak from a water facility, according to the federal fire tracker.

How long has the fire been burning? Known as the Dragon Bravo fire, the inferno began on the Fourth of July due to a lightning strike, according to the federal website. Government officials chose to handle the fire as a controlled burn for the first six days, according to a Grand Canyon National Park post. But it grew out of control on Friday and steadily expanded. 

What did Arizona’s governor say about the fire? Katie Hobbs said she was calling for a federal investigation into the decision to treat the blaze as a controlled burn during a hot, dry summer. She also thanked firefighters and first responders.