Arizona governor tours wildfire destruction along Grand Canyon's North
Rim
[July 21, 2025]
By SEJAL GOVINDARAO
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs
toured the destruction left by a wildfire along the Grand Canyon's North
Rim, on Saturday, surveying what she described as devastating damage.
The governor, who has called for an investigation into how the blaze was
handled, sought to gather information ahead of meetings with federal
officials next week. She looked intently out the window as the Black
Hawk helicopter she was riding snaked over the Grand Canyon.
White smoke emerged from the North Rim, and most of the Grand Canyon
Lodge was reduced to a bare skeleton, though some of the building
appeared intact from overhead. Some surrounding trees were no more than
charred toothpicks on the ashen land, and whiffs of smoky air passed
through the helicopter.
The wildfire was sparked by a lightning strike July 4. Four days later
the National Park Service said it was being allowed to burn as part of a
“confine and contain” strategy that the Grand Canyon National Park has
leaned on for decades to clear dense vegetation, minimize future risk
and make the ecosystem more resilient.
But a week after ignition, blustery winds, hot temperatures and lower
humidity quickly intensified the flames, prompting officials to shift to
aggressive suppression and order evacuations. The blaze has charred more
than 18 square miles (46 square kilometers), and as of Saturday it was
8% contained, according to fire information officer Stefan La-Sky.
No injuries have been reported, but the Dragon Bravo fire on the
canyon’s less-frequented North Rim destroyed more than 70 structures,
including a visitors' center, historic cabins and the nearly century-old
Grand Canyon Lodge.
After touching ground, Hobbs visited the incident command post. Lined
with trailers and dotted with yurts and tents, the fire camp currently
houses more than 800 personnel who have come from various federal, state
and local entities and independent contractors to help fire suppression
efforts. The camp functions similar to a tiny town.
The governor shook hands with members of the crew in the mess hall and
met with officials including those from Grand Canyon National Park, the
Department of Interior and the National Park Service as well as the
incident commander. She said she was encouraged to hear that mitigation
is a priority for the federal government.
[to top of second column]
|
A view of the remains of the Grand Canyon Lodge during Arizona Gov.
Katie Hobbs' aerial tour of the wildfire damage along the canyon's
North Rim, Ariz., Saturday, July 19, 2025. (Joe Rondone/The Arizona
Republic via AP, Pool)
“This is federal jurisdiction, but fire doesn’t know that boundary,
and we all have to work together,” Hobbs said.
The governor has called for an investigation into why the park
service did not immediately put out the flames during the hottest
and driest period of summer. Members of the state's congressional
delegation also have raised questions.
Hobbs said she is not second-guessing the initial response. She said
after the fire is managed, she is seeking answers to what went into
the decision-making and whether there were missteps.
The park service has defended its actions.
Hobbs is set to meet this week with leadership in the U.S. Forest
Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior about their
decisions in managing the wildfire this upcoming week.
She said in a video statement Wednesday that she has not seen any
indication that a lack of federal resources are to blame for the
spread of the blaze.
Last month President Donald Trump ordered government officials to
consolidate wildland firefighting into a single program, despite
warnings from former federal officials that it could be costly and
increase the risk of catastrophic blazes.
The North Rim is closed for the rest of the season along with a pair
of campgrounds near the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
