Posted on 07/13/2025 3:02:35 PM PDT by hiho hiho
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — A historic lodge on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has been destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire, the park said Sunday.
The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park at the North Rim, was consumed by the flames, park Superintendent Ed Keeble told park residents, staff and others in a meeting Sunday morning.
He said the visitor center, the gas station, a waste water treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee housing also were lost.
Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim, known as the White Sage Fire and the Bravo Dragon fire. The latter is the one that impacted the lodge and other structures. The park initially was managing it as a controlled burn but then shifted to suppression as it rapidly grew, fire officials said.
Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually, with most going to the more popular South Rim. The North Rim is open seasonally. It was evacuated last Thursday because of wildfire.
The burning of the waste water treatment plant resulted in the release of chlorine gas that prompted the evacuation of firefighters and hikers from the inner canyon, park officials said Sunday. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk.
“The park initially was managing it as a controlled burn” that they started. Then it got out of control.
Just maybe the park service workers during the winter off season should be given an axe and a shovel to remove the brush instead of sitting on their butts contemplating their navels.
Happened enough here in CA they started using the term prescribed burn. L9L
Happened enough here in CA they started using the term prescribed burn. L9L
My Geology professor from Rutgers use to take the trip by mule there with some of his senior students.
The rim of the canyon is at high altitude, and very temperate. Grand Canyon Lodge is 8,000 feet, and gets snow in the winter. As you go down into the canyon, it will warm ~20 degrees. Worth visiting, it really is amazing. Just pick a temperate time.
Heartbreaking and terrifying.
If competent people were in charge of controlled burns, wouldn't these have been factors to consider? Wouldn't someone who was capable of making such decisions say, " A controlled burn in July! Are you nuts?"
Exactly, either they get off their butts and get to work or they’re fired!
The desert southwest is magical in the Spring. Hellish in summer, avoid.
Sue the NPS for an excessive climate changing CO2 release!
Is there a hint of DEI in this situation?
maybe they wanted to rebuild and a controlled burn getting out of control just helps that along?
The North Rim of the Canyon is 1000 feet higher than the South Rim-and a longer drive.
Seems to be another “controlled burn” that went uncontrolled.
That’s true and winter when there is snow on the ground is usually a better time to do a controlled burn.
Who in their right mind would attempt a controlled burn in the middle of July in the middle of a drought? Oh! I know! College-educated bureaucrats!
We stayed at the Grand Canyon Lodge last July. Wife had a moment when she realized the place had no cell or WiFi, but we really enjoyed it. BTW, the north rim gets cool at night, and sleeping with windows open I got to hear elk bugling the first morning.
Seems like I remember reading that it burned before.
This must be Trump’s fault—somehow...
Good work there government employees. Not.
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