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13h ago

Zero Containment as Grand Canyon North Rim Wildfires Threaten Hundreds of Structures

Federal and state investigators are probing the Park Service’s early fire management approach in light of the ongoing zero containment status.

Smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire can be seen by visitors as it burns on the Grand Canyon's North Rim on July 15, 2025.
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This undated photo provided by the National Park Service shows the historic Grand Canyon Lodge's front entrance with a sloped roof, huge ponderosa beams and massive limestone facade, on the North Rim of Grand Canyon, in northern Arizona on July 14, 2025.

Overview

  • The Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires have scorched over 90 square miles on the North Rim and remain at 0% containment as crews shift to defending cabins, mule stables and critical park infrastructure.
  • A preliminary Grand Canyon National Park report warns that about 235 properties were threatened or damaged, including roughly 60 visitor lodging structures that were destroyed.
  • The nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of historic cabins were consumed after strong winds caused the Dragon Bravo Fire to flare up, and firefighters were forced to pull back aerial retardant drops when a chlorine gas leak occurred at a water treatment plant.
  • NASA satellite imagery released this week shows expanding smoke plumes and infrared hotspots, helping multi-agency teams map the fires’ rapid progression and target defense efforts.
  • Arizona’s governor and members of Congress have called for an independent review of the Park Service’s initial ‘confine and contain’ strategy under recent federal directives consolidating wildfire response.