An official says a historic Grand Canyon lodge has been destroyed by wildfire
Share this @internewscast.com

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) — A historic lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon has been engulfed by a rapidly advancing wildfire, as confirmed by the park on Sunday.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, which stands as the sole accommodation option within the park’s North Rim, was overtaken by the fire, according to park Superintendent Ed Keable. He informed park residents, staff, and others during a Sunday morning meeting that the visitor center, gas station, wastewater treatment plant, an administrative building, and several employee residences were also destroyed.

Currently, two wildfires are active in or close to the North Rim area, identified as the White Sage Fire and the Bravo Dragon Fire. It was the Bravo Dragon Fire that inflicted damage upon the lodge and other facilities. Initially managed as a controlled burn, park officials transitioned to suppression tactics as the fire expanded swiftly, according to fire authorities.

Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park annually, with most going to the more popular South Rim. The North Rim is open seasonally. It was evacuated last Thursday because of wildfire.

The burning of the water treatment plant resulted in the release of chlorine gas that prompted the evacuation of firefighters and hikers from the inner canyon, park officials said Sunday. Chlorine gas is heavier than air and can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk.

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.

___

This story has been updated to correct spelling of superintendent’s last name to Keable, not Keeble, in second paragraph.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
DOJ Announces Charges Against Activists Who Allegedly Doxxed an ICE Agent After Following Him Home

The DOJ Reveals Charges Against Activists Accused of Revealing ICE Agent’s Personal Information After Tracking Him Home

Amid the bustling news surrounding James Comey and the two-count indictment against…
Russian foreign minister tells United Nations any aggression against Russia will be met with 'decisive response'

Russian Foreign Minister Warns United Nations of Strong Retaliation to Any Acts Against Russia

UNITED NATIONS — As new tensions rise between Russia and NATO powers,…
Texas Tech tells faculty to revise instruction, recognize only 2 sexes in classrooms

Texas Tech Instructs Faculty to Focus on Binary Gender Approach in Classrooms

Texas Tech University System’s Chancellor, Tedd L. Mitchell, has instructed university leaders…
Selena Gomez marries Benny Blanco in intimate ceremony

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco Tie the Knot in a Private Ceremony

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Selena Gomez recently shared the joyful news of…
Smuggler admits to dumping migrant's body on side of road

Trafficker Confesses to Abandoning Migrant’s Body Along Roadside

McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A man from Mexico has admitted guilt…
Selena Gomez marries Benny Blanco in star-studded ceremony

Selena Gomez Weds Benny Blanco in Glamorous Celebrity-Filled Event

We can’t calm down. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco officially said “I…
TPUSA leader calls for UNC professor’s firing over alleged leftist gun group ties after flyers hit Georgetown

TPUSA Leader Demands Firing of UNC Professor for Alleged Links to Leftist Gun Group Following Georgetown Flyer Incident

Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, urged on Saturday for…
Sara Jane Moore death: Woman who tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford in San Francisco, California in 1975 dies at 95

Sara Jane Moore, Who Attempted to Assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975, Passes Away at 95

Sara Jane Moore, who spent over three decades in prison for attempting…
Thieves steal $1M worth in craft whiskey from Washington distillery

Thieves Make Off with $1 Million in Craft Whiskey from Washington Distillery

Thieves who absconded with 12,000 bottles of craft whiskey in a rare…
Robert Barnett, influential DC lawyer to politicians and journalists, dies at 79

Renowned DC Lawyer Robert Barnett, Advisor to Politicians and Journalists, Passes Away at 79

Robert Barnett, a prominent attorney in Washington, D.C., renowned for securing major…
Joseph Naso, ‘Alphabet Killer,’ paid twisted homage to executed ‘Red Light Bandit’: investigator

Joseph Naso, ‘Alphabet Killer,’ Allegedly Honored the Executed ‘Red Light Bandit’: Investigator Reveals

Joseph Naso, the “Alphabet Killer,” may have been paying twisted homage to…
Advisories ahead of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine

Warnings Issued for Possible Tropical Cyclone Nine

A PTC is a classification given to a system when it has…