The Grand Canyon wildfire doubles in size - The North Rim remains closed
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A large wildfire continues to rage across the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, forcing the closure of the area for the remainder of the 2025 season and threatening historic landmarks. The Dragon Bravo Fire, ignited by a lightning strike on July 4, has now scorched over 55,000 acres.
According to the Weather Network , the Dragon Bravo Fire, once a slow-moving threat, has surged to 86 square miles—an area larger than Washington, D.C.—as updated mapping reveals the true scale of destruction,Southwest Area Incident Management Team public information officer Lisa Jennings told KTAR News.
The latest incident report on Monday July 28 stated containment was at 13%, after it was at 26% on Friday, and more than 55,000 acres burned. That is double the area from the 28,773 acres lost at the end of last week. according to Ktar News.
“Containment isn’t just a number—it’s boots on the ground, it’s cold blackened earth,” explained Lisa Jennings, spokesperson for the Southwest Area Incident Management Team to Ktar News.
“Our crews are out there, inch by inch, securing the perimeter. But the fire’s growth has outpaced even our most aggressive efforts.”
Despite firefighters expanding the length of controlled lines, the fire’s explosive behavior has rendered those gains a shrinking fraction of the ever-growing perimeter. Fueled by dryness, gusty winds, and high heat, the Dragon Bravo Fire continues burn.
Historic lodge lost, and more structures at risk
The fire has already destroyed over 70 buildings, including the iconic Grand Canyon Lodge, built in 1937, which burned on July 12. Fire crews are now working to protect the Kaibab Lodge, a 99-year-old structure located just five miles from the park entrance.
High heat and smoke Complicate Efforts
Firefighters face challenging conditions, with temperatures soaring between 40 C / 105 F or more, and low relative humidity. A pyrocumulus cloud formed over the canyon, creating its own weather system and further complicating containment efforts.
Smoke has rendered air quality unhealthy across the North Rim, and officials warn visitors to avoid descending below 4,000 feet during peak heat hours.
Closures and evacuations
The North Rim is reportedly closed for the rest of the season, and several inner canyon trails—including the North and South Kaibab Trails, Phantom Ranch, and Bright Angel Campground—are off-limits. Evacuation orders remain in place for surrounding areas, though some have shifted to “READY” status.
For more information and Additional Coverage:
https://weather.com/news/news/2025-07-29-grand-canyon-dragon-bravo-fire-latest
https://ktar.com/arizona-wildfire-news/dragon-bravo-containment/5733095/
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Creative Commons License
View on Grand Canyon from the south rim with clouds from forest fire.
Date: 24 October 2017
Author Hardscarf