**Grand Canyon Wildfire Devastates Historic Lodge and Surroundings**

The Dragon Bravo Fire has spurred significant evacuations and closures, raising concerns over fire management during peak tourism seasons.

A devastating wildfire near the Grand Canyon has led to the destruction of numerous structures, including the iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, the only accommodation available at the North Rim of the national park. Both the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire have swept through tens of thousands of acres, forcing park officials to close the North Rim for the remainder of the 2025 tourism season. The Dragon Bravo Fire ignited on July 4, attributed to a lightning strike, while the White Sage Fire emerged shortly after on July 9, coinciding with a thunderstorm. As of Monday, both fires remain 0% contained.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, operational since the 1930s, provided essential dining, shopping, and mail services for visitors. Aramark, the lodge’s operating company, expressed profound sadness over the loss, emphasizing the safety of employees and guests during evacuation. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, although preliminary evaluations from the National Park Service indicate that between 50 and 80 buildings have been lost, which include administrative and visitor facilities.

Wildfire conditions worsened due to sustained winds reaching 40 mph (64 km/h), and firefighters had to flee from an area affected by chlorine gas from a nearby water treatment facility leak, bringing additional dangers for both responders and hikers. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs criticized federal management of the fire, highlighting a need for a thorough investigation into the decision to treat the initial ignition as a controlled burn during peak fire season.

In response to these claims, US Interior Department spokesperson Elizabeth Peace refuted allegations of mismanagement, asserting that wildland fire experts fully understand the gravity of wildfire threats. Meanwhile, the White Sage Fire has consumed over 40,000 acres of the Kaibab National Forest, triggering mandatory evacuations for hundreds of local residents. Despite the devastation, the Grand Canyon’s South Rim remains open to the public, a site that welcomed nearly five million tourists in 2024, making it one of the most frequented destinations in the U.S.