Wildfire threatens Grand Canyon's North Rim
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The fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon started from a lightning strike but was managed as a controlled burn until it spread.
Gov. Katie Hobbs questioned why the U.S. government decided to manage the Dragon Bravo fire, which started with a lightning strike, as a “controlled burn” during the height of the summer.
COCONINO COUNTY, Ariz. — Stage 2 fire restrictions will go into effect July 17 for Grand Canyon National Park due to the high threat of wildfire danger in the region. The U.S. Department of Interior said the restrictions will be applied to the South Rim and all other areas of the park.
The Dragon Bravo Fire started on July 4 and was managed at first as a controlled burn. Then the wind picked up, and it quickly became uncontrollable.
Arizona's governor has demanded an investigation into why a wildfire that destroyed a historic lodge and dozens of other structures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was allowed to burn for a week before federal firefighters tried to put it out.
The Grand Canyon Lodge was the park's one and only hotel, according the National Park Service, with the next nearest lodgings roughly 18 miles away.
The Dragon Bravo Fire has destroyed dozens of structures and a water treatment facility, and the White Sage Fire, located in Kaibab National Forest, has forced hundreds to evacuate.
A mix of high temperatures, gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation has fuelled the fire's swift advance in Arizona, officials say.