- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
US Wildfire: A century-old historic lodge and dozens of other buildings were reduced to ashes as two rapidly spreading wildfires, the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire burned thousands of acres of land in north Arizona, forcing evacuations and road closures under perilously hot and windy weather. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on Sunday called for an outside investigation into how the Dragon Bravo Fire was handled.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Hobbs stated that the federal government’s decision to manage the lightning-sparked blaze as a controlled burn during peak summer heat must face “intense oversight and scrutiny.” “An incident of this magnitude demands answers,” Hobbs said, adding she wants a “comprehensive and independent report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome.”
Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge Among Dozens of Buildings Lost
The fire started on July 4 in the North Rim section of Grand Canyon National Park and has now consumed more than 5,000 acres, as reported by Inciweb. Among the estimated losses are the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, which opened in 1937, a water treatment plant, and many historic cabins. Early estimates put the number of lost buildings between 50 to 80. The fire accelerated quickly on the evening of July 12, fueled by sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts of up to 40 mph, prompting firefighters to combat extreme and erratic fire behavior.
Efforts to enclose the fire were made difficult when a leak in the damaged water treatment plant released chlorine gas, prompting firefighters to be evacuated from key areas and suspending aerial retardant drops in the vicinity of the lodge. Despite overnight bucket drops to slow the spread, strong winds and dry conditions continued to fuel the fire, which remains active under an aggressive full-suppression strategy.
In the meantime, the White Sage Fire, ignited by a thunderstorm on July 9, exploded to almost 40,200 acres with zero percent containment by Sunday evening, the US Forest Service said. The fire had crossed Highway 89A about south of House Rock Valley, Arizona, causing additional road closures and fire suppression problems. Fire crews are battling “extremely active fire behavior” with erratic winds and dry fuel conditions, the Bureau of Land Management said.
ALSO READ: Texas Floods Leave Trail Of Destruction: Hundreds Dead, Homes Lost, Crops Underwater | In Pics
Severe Heat and Weather Conditions Exacerbate Wildfire Hazard
An extreme heat warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for elevations below 4,000 feet within the Grand Canyon, with temperatures between 110°F and 115°F anticipated to persist till Wednesday evening. Scientist have consistently cautioned that increased temperatures, more frequent droughts, and higher wind gusts, all exacerbated by global warming, are igniting more intense and frequent wildfires throughout the western United States.
Fire officials indicate that their top priorities are still the health and safety of firefighters and the public, the protection of remaining structures on the North Rim, and the preservation of the park's natural and cultural resources.
