FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A historic lodge on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has been destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire, the park said Sunday.
The flames consumed the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only accommodation available inside the park at the North Rim, as reported by park Superintendent Ed Keable during a meeting on Sunday morning. He informed the park residents, staff, and other attendees that along with the lodge, the visitor center, the gas station, a wastewater treatment plant, an administrative building, and some employee housing were among the 50 to 80 structures destroyed.
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This undated image provided by the National Park Service shows the entrance to the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim at Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. (Michael Quinn/National Park Service via AP) -
Low angle view of the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of the beautiful Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Two wildfires are currently burning at or near the North Rim, identified as the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire, the latter of which affected the lodge and other structures. Initially, the park was managing this as a controlled burn. However, due to the fire’s rapid expansion to 7.8 square miles (20 square kilometers) caused by hot temperatures, low humidity, and wind, fire officials decided to shift to suppression efforts.
No injuries have been reported.
Grand Canyon National Park attracts millions of visitors each year, with the majority visiting the more accessible South Rim. The North Rim operates on a seasonal basis and was evacuated last Thursday as a precaution due to 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.
