Wildfire Breaks Out On The Grand Canyon’s North Rim, Destroys Historic Lodge
Wildfires break out in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (Photo by Grand Canyon National Park via Getty Images)
Dozens of structures, including a historic lodge, have been destroyed after a wildfire spread to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Two fast-moving wildfires, named the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire, have burned through thousands of acres of land near the area.
Among the buildings that were lost was the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging available on the North Rim.
The Grand Canyon Lodge sat at 8,000 feet and had been a staple of the national park for nearly 90 years.
“As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous other historic buildings at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim,” a statement read on the lodge’s official website.
“We are grateful that all our employees and guests have been safely evacuated, and we join the National Park Service in mourning the loss of these iconic and beloved structures.”
#GrandCanyonLodge #Breaking #NationalParks #GrandCanyon The Grand Canyon Lodge, beloved jewel and crown of the Grand Canyon’s north rim, has burned by the Dragon Bravo Fire. Both the Dragon Bravo Fire (5,000 acres) and White Sage Fire (40,000 acres) continue to burn. pic.twitter.com/4BnxKUAk2Y
— USAS: weather, avgeek, ships, tanks! (@USAS_WW1) July 14, 2025
Another concern in the area is the potential exposure to chlorine gas after a wastewater treatment plant was one of the nearly 80 buildings to go up in flames.
Chlorine gas exposure can cause several health issues, including serious respiratory problems.
Access to the North Rim has been closed for the rest of the tourist season.
What We Know About The Wildfires So Far
Arizona officials confirmed that both wildfires were started by lightning. The Dragon Bravo Fire began on July 4, while the White Sage Fire was first reported on July 9.
Fueled by extreme heat and strong winds, the wildfires have continued to spread.
NBC News reports that the White Sage Fire doubled in size on Sunday (July 13), reaching more than 40,000 acres.
As of now, no injuries have been reported. According to the federal wildfire tracker InciWeb, as of Monday (July 14), the White Sage fire is 0% contained.
More than 5 million people visited the Grand Canyon last year. However, most of the traffic is seen in the South Rim.
The South Rim remains open and appears unaffected by the current wildfires.
