Wildfires Prompt Evacuations in National Parks
Wildfires have led to the evacuation of visitors and staff in two national parks in the western United States, particularly as the summer Monsoon season brings more lightning to these dry areas.
Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon, located about 260 miles southwest of Denver, is closed indefinitely due to lightning strikes that ignited fires on both edges, according to park officials. Similarly, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona has also shut down due to nearby wildfires on Bureau of Land Management land around Lake Jacob.
A fire broke out in the Black Canyon area on Thursday, consuming roughly 2.5 square miles without any containment. By Friday, a small fire at the North Rim had been extinguished, as noted on the incident map.
On Friday, conditions continued to pose a risk for wildfires, with factors like high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds, and dry vegetation exacerbating the situation, according to the park.
The risk of wildfires in the West is escalating as drought conditions persist in several states. While the Monsoon season, running from June to September, can bring some much-needed moisture, it can also trigger sandstorms and thunderstorms that set off wildfires, particularly in parks located in Colorado and Arizona.
Firefighters managed to save the Black Canyon visitor center at the South Rim by clearing dry vegetation and applying protective materials to the building. However, a small aircraft from the Colorado Fire Prevention and Control Department fell behind in aerial efforts on Friday, despite ground crews working hard to control the situation. Some parks and facilities have sustained damage, according to the park.
In Arizona, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with evacuations in the Lake Jacob area and among campers in the nearby Kaibab National Forest. The fire reportedly started on Wednesday evening after a thunderstorm moved through the area.
“Gusty and erratic winds” hampered firefighters’ efforts on Thursday afternoon, making it difficult to contain the flames, stated Rachel Carnahan, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management. By Friday afternoon, the fire had scorched approximately 17 square miles, with no containment in sight, and a heavy smoke cloud hung over the Grand Canyon.
Joel Baird, spokesperson for the Grand Canyon, mentioned that roughly 500 visitors scheduled to stay one night had to be evacuated on Thursday night, and North Rim employees and residents were instructed to stay evacuated.
Melinda Rich, owner of the Jaco Break Inn, a century-old establishment known for its homemade cookies, evacuated 75 staff members on Thursday and housed guests in about 35 occupied cabins. “It’s tough for us because we were half booked, and now we have to refund everyone. That’s a financial challenge for us,” she noted. “But my heart goes out to those who may be new to the canyon.”
Rich explained how guests who had just checked in learned they needed to leave immediately upon receiving a call from the sheriff’s office. Staff began reaching out to guests who were exploring the area.
Even with smoke rising nearby, evacuation felt necessary due to wind direction, Rich added. She recounted how, in 2020, wildfires came alarmingly close—within 20 feet of the cabins.
“We experienced those miraculous moments, filled with prayers, and the wind shifted just enough to spare us by about a mile,” she recalled.
