Wildfires Result In Closure Of Grand Canyon North Rim

Lightning strikes ignited both fires and a combination of strong winds and other weather issues, resulted in rapid expansion.

A pair of rapid-moving wildfires destroyed a historic lodge in Grand Canyon National Park.

The Dragon Bravo Fire, which has burned 5,000 acres within the park, destroyed dozens of structures including the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only hotel located inside the national park at the North Rim.

The other fire burning at/or near the park’s North Rim is the White Sage Fire. The blazes combined have consumed around 45,000 acres of land, an area nearly the size of Washington, D.C.

Lightning strikes ignited both fires and a combination of strong winds, low humidity and high daily temperatures led to their rapid expansion.

The North Rim will remain closed for the rest of the season typically through October 15. Visitors to the South Rim, which is open year-round, were advised to stay updated on possible air quality alerts.