The Grand Canyon wildfire, officially named the Dragon Bravo Fire, continues to rage across Arizona&rsquo;s North Rim, having scorched an estimated 472 square kilometres as of Sunday. Ignited by a July 4 lightning strike on the Walhalla Plateau inside Grand Canyon National Park, the fire remains only 12% contained despite an intensive, multi-agency firefighting effort.
The fast-growing blaze is being driven by gusty winds, dry timber, and rugged canyon terrain. More than 1,200 firefighters, supported by helicopters and air tankers, are engaged in round-the-clock suppression operations. So far, over 900 people, along with 54 trail mules and park staff, have been safely evacuated.
Firefighters have leveraged natural barriers such as canyon walls, previous burn scars, and forest roads to slow the fire&rsquo;s advance. But officials warn that full containment could take weeks, depending on weather conditions, fuel moisture, and fire behaviour.
The fire escalated rapidly after July 10, when authorities evacuated 500 visitors. On July 12, strong winds pushed flames through the historic lodge district, destroying the Grand Canyon Lodge, its 1920s-era stone dining room, pine-sided tourist cabins, and several utility buildings in under two hours.
By July 31, the fire had entered Arizona's record books, ranking among the state&rsquo;s ten largest wildfires in history.
Forecasts now show monsoon moisture approaching northern Arizona, which could raise humidity levels and bring potential showers mid-week, offering some hope of slowing the fire.
The Dragon Bravo Fire is part of a historic wildfire season in the US. As of late July, the National Interagency Fire Centre reported 41,000+ wildfires nationwide, burning nearly 3 million acres&mdash;well above the 10-year average. Other major blazes include Oregon&rsquo;s 95,000-acre megafire, California&rsquo;s 80,000-acre Madre Fire, and Arizona&rsquo;s 58,000-acre White Sage Fire.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]
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Arizona’s Dragon Bravo Fire burns over 470 sq km, damages historic lodge, and remains act

Grand Canyon Wildfire Grows, Threatens Park Legacy

Arizona’s Dragon Bravo Fire burns over 470 sq km, damages historic lodge, and remains act

August 4, 2025 | 18:53 IST