Dragon Bravo Fire Update

Flagstaff, Arizona – The Dragon Bravo Fire has scorched over 145,000 acres in the northern region, with 64% of it now contained. The historic lodge has been destroyed, and heavy smoke has lingered for weeks, leaving many to question the future of the park and surrounding forest.

A research team has determined that more than half of the burned area experienced less severe damage, which is, I think, somewhat encouraging, as it suggests a quicker recovery for those parts.

However, there remains a significant portion of the forest that suffered medium to high burns, raising concerns for the aftermath. Once the smoke dissipates and fire activity diminishes, a comprehensive recovery assessment will be conducted.

According to team leader TJ Clifford, “We usually have more of that injury or fatality after a fire.” He emphasized the importance of these assessments for the safety of future visitors and firefighters.

The team employs satellite imagery as well as on-the-ground surveys to evaluate the extent of soil damage caused by the fire.

Clifford noted that this information will aid in planning for vegetation growth, depending on how rainfall interacts with the terrain.

They discovered that 26%, which amounts to over 38,000 acres, displayed moderate burn severity, along with an additional 2%, or more than 3,400 acres, having experienced severe soil burning.

Meteorologist Megan Taylor from the National Weather Service highlighted that these heavily burned regions pose risks due to debris, which hampers soil’s ability to absorb water from rainfall.

“Almost all the vegetation has burned, impacting the soil structure,” she explained.

She further reinforced that the combination of debris and rain can lead to landslides, as it mixes rocks, mud, vegetation, and soil.

Clifford remarked that the overall positive assessment indicates that 65% or more than 97,000 acres have experienced less severe burns.

“That’s really encouraging,” he said. “Most of the vegetation will be able to regrow, and tree mortality appears minimal.”

Regarding areas with severe burns, he mentioned it might take years for recovery, but tree species like Aspen often thrive after such incidents.

Looking forward, the next step is securing funding for forest rehabilitation—essentially, clean-up efforts.

“This could be an ideal approach for restoring the areas affected by the Dragon Bravo Fire and mitigating potential risks,” Clifford added.