FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A historic lodge on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has been destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire, the park said Sunday.
The Grand Canyon Lodge, the sole accommodation within the park on the North Rim, was engulfed by fire, according to park Superintendent Ed Keable during a meeting on Sunday morning with park inhabitants, staff, and others. He reported that the visitor center, gas station, waste water treatment plant, an administrative building, and some staff housing were among the 50 to 80 buildings destroyed.
There are currently two wildfires burning at or near the North Rim, identified as the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The latter caused damage to the lodge and other buildings. Initially, the park managed it as a controlled burn, but due to escalating conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity, and wind, fire officials shifted focus to suppression as it quickly expanded to 7.8 square miles (20 square kilometers).
The White Sage Fire doubled in size on Sunday, growing from roughly 20,000 acres to 40,000, according to government website that tracks U.S. fires.
No injuries have been reported.
Grand Canyon National Park attracts millions of visitors each year, with the majority heading to the more frequently visited South Rim. The North Rim operates seasonally and was evacuated last Thursday as a result of the wildfire.
Firefighters at the North Rim and hikers in the inner canyon were evacuated over the weekend. The park said along with the fire risk, they could potentially be exposed to chlorine gas after the treatment plant burned. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can lead to blurred vision, irritation or respiratory problems if high amounts of it are breathed in, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rafters on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon also were told to bypass Phantom Ranch, which has a set of cabins and dormitories along the river.
The North Rim lodge was often the first prominent feature that visitors see, even before viewing the canyon. A highway ends at the lodge, which was known for its sloped roof, huge ponderosa beams and massive limestone facade. By walking across the lobby and descending a stairwell, visitors could get their first view of the Grand Canyon shining through windows across the “Sun Room.”
Meanwhile, officials reported progress in battling a second wildfire burning north of the Grand Canyon. Fire lines on the White Sage Fire that forced evacuations at the North Rim and in the community of Jacob Lake were holding, officials said. On the southern edge of the fire, hand crews and bulldozers were working uphill, and the spread of the blaze had been minimal.
But to the east and north, the fire has spread rapidly, with grasses and standing dead trees contributing to the fire’s intensity, officials said. The fire was pushing downhill toward the Vermilion Cliffs area, and crews were assessing opportunities to create buffer zones that help slow or halt the fire’s progress.
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