A wildfire that began on 4 July along the remote North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has exploded, destroying over 70 buildings and forcing evacuations. The blaze, named the Dragon Bravo fire, has grown to nearly 12,000 acres and is only 2% contained as of late July.
Fire managers initially decided to let the lightning-caused fire burn at low intensity to clear excess fuels, a practice known as 'control and contain'. However, on 11 July, the fire breached containment lines and rapidly expanded, with one firefighter describing it as 'sounding like a freight train coming towards us'.
The destruction includes the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, dozens of visitor cabins, and park administrative offices and residences. The North Rim, which receives only 10% of the park's annual visitors, has been closed for the remainder of the season, leaving hundreds of employees without homes and jobs.
Questions have arisen about the decision not to extinguish the fire immediately. A firefighter who was on scene said the initial call seemed reasonable based on conditions, but a sudden drop in humidity and strong winds caused the fire to escalate. The crew lacked adequate equipment and manpower, with resources diverted to another fire, the White Sage fire.
The firefighter recounted being trapped in the fire station as flames surrounded them, while another group was trapped on a helipad with 100-foot flames. Over 750 firefighters are now battling the blaze, which continues to pose challenges.
