Historic Grand Canyon Lodge destroyed as lightning-sparked wildfires force evacuations and closures

Fueled by lightning and extreme fire weather, the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires have burned more than 45,000 acres in and around the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, prompting long-term closures and full evacuation of the area.

Two lightning-triggered wildfires burning around the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park are forcing widespread evacuations and closures, according to the National Park Service.

The smaller Dragon Bravo Fire, which ignited to July 4, has surged to roughly 6,000 acres and destroyed the historic North Rim lodge—the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim—along with 50-80 other structures. The blaze pushed past control lines over the weekend amid gusty 20- to 40-mph winds and low humidity.

“It just feels like you’re a pioneer when you walk through there (the lodge),” Tim Allen, a longtime Arizona resident and frequent visitor to the lodge, told NBC. “It really felt like you were in a time gone by...It's heartbreaking.”

The fire also consumed the visitor center, gas station, wastewater treatment plant, an administrative building and portions of employee housing, Park Superintendent Ed Keable confirmed during a meeting with residents, staff and officials on Sunday morning. The park added that “numerous” historic cabins in the area were among the estimated 50 to 80 structures lost.

“High temperatures, very low humidity, gusty winds, and very dry vegetation across the region” created a risk for wildfires to occur, Grand Canyon National Park said in a post on X.

At the same time, the White Sage Fire, sparked on July 9 near Jacob Lake, located about 30 miles from the southern Utah border, has burned 50,000 acres, prompting evacuations of Jacob Lake and North Rim visitors. Fire managers report no containment on either fire, driven by extreme weather and rough terrain .

Millions visit Grand Canyon National Park each year, with the majority heading to the more accessible South Rim. The White Sage Fire, while not burning inside Grand Canyon National Park, is located on adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land near Jacob Lake. Its rapid spread and proximity to park infrastructure have triggered a coordinated response involving both BLM and National Park Service fire crews.

Compounding the urgency, a chlorine gas leak from a burned water treatment plant at the North Rim has raised safety alarms and forced firefighters out of inner canyon zones. As a result, the North Rim is closed for the rest of the season, along with popular trails. Rafters on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon have been advised to bypass Phantom Ranch, which has a set of cabins and dormitories along the river.

Fire crews are deploying aggressive full-suppression strategies, including aerial retardant drops in remote drainages like Roaring Springs. A Type-1 incident team is on site, and hundreds of firefighters and aircraft are combating relentless fire behavior. No injuries or fatalities have been reported, and all personnel and residents were evacuated safely.

With both fires still at 0% containment, park officials warn that extreme heat, low humidity and winds may prolong closures and evacuation orders. Visitors are urged to monitor official updates and stay clear of affected areas as suppression efforts intensify.

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