Major Wildfire at Grand Canyon
A wildfire on the northern side of the Grand Canyon has wreaked havoc, damaging significant parts of the North Rim area within the National Park. It’s now considered one of the largest wildfires in Arizona’s recent history.
According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the Dragon Bravo Fire has consumed roughly four times the amount of vegetation compared to the area of Tempe, which is quite substantial. For reference, that’s about 330,000 acres when comparing it to Phoenix.
As of July 31, the region has been under local red flag warnings due to extremely low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds.
Firefighters continue to face challenging weather conditions as they attempt to control the flames that were initially sparked by lightning. Wind gusts can reach up to 35 mph, while humidity levels drop as low as 8-12%, with no rain expected in the forecast.
“With humidity at around 8%, the moisture content of the fuel is less than that of kindling,” noted a July 31 update from the Dragon Bravo Fire team’s report. The update further assures that fire crews are focused on a comprehensive strategy for managing the incident.
Smoke from the fire can still be seen drifting in surroundings. The blaze, which started on July 4th, remains active in the northern regions. According to the latest updates, the fires in the north and east are nearing a stage that could alter their progression. Firefighters continue to work on preparing Forest Road 213 towards the northern end of the Kaibab Plateau, ensuring aircraft support to mitigate any delays.
On the western side of the fire, teams are diligently working along Forest Road 22, just west of Route 67, to protect areas around the Kaiba Lodge and Park Entrance Station. Resources are also allocated at Walhalla Plateau to safeguard cultural sites.
Interestingly, the update remarked, “If you approach the site of the 2018 Obi Fire, the flames could potentially extinguish themselves.” The Obi Fire, which was also caused by lightning, scorched over 10,000 acres on the North Rim back in July 2018.
Access to the North Rims of the Grand Canyon National Park will remain restricted for the rest of the season in 2025. For more information on the closure, details have been provided by the Bureau of Land Management. While Route 89A has reopened, Grand Canyon Highway (Route 67) is still closed.
Kaibab Camper Village and Jacob Lake Inn and Gas Station are operational, but much of the Kaibab National Forest, including Jacob Lake campsite, remains shut down.
