Wildfire Destroys Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge, Forces Seasonal Closure

The Dragon Bravo wildfire, sparked by lightning on July 4, 2025, devastated the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge along with 50 to 80 other structures, including the visitor center, employee housing, a gas station, and a wastewater treatment plant. This lodge, the only one inside the North Rim and a National Historic Landmark since 1987, was a significant architectural and cultural symbol, first built in 1937 and rebuilt after a 1932 fire. The park’s North Rim has been closed for the remainder of the year due to the fire's destruction and ongoing danger, with evacuations ordered for hikers and river rafters. The National Park Service initially managed the fire with a “confine and contain” strategy, which drew criticism and prompted Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to call for an independent federal investigation into the decision to treat the fire as a controlled burn during peak summer conditions. The fire's rapid growth was fueled by hot temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, and it burned approximately 7.8 square miles before suppression efforts intensified. While no injuries have been reported, the fire also raised concerns over a chlorine gas release from the damaged wastewater treatment plant.