Overview

• Park authorities evacuated more than 500 tourists and staff over the weekend of July 11–12 as strong winds caused the flames to surge.
• Lightning that struck on July 4 ignited two fires that merged and exploded under high winds, destroying between 50 and 80 structures including the 1930s-era lodge.
• Despite the scale of the blaze, there were no reported fatalities although damage to historic lodges and visitor facilities was extensive.
• Officials initially treated the wildfire as a controlled burn to clear vegetation, a tactic now under scrutiny for its timing during the driest and hottest stretch of the Arizona summer.
• The closure comes as more than 100 wildfires burn across the Western U.S. and federal budget cuts have reduced staffing at agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, NOAA and FEMA.