Did Grand Canyon lodge burn down? What we know amid Arizona Wildfires
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President Bush at the Grand Canyon in 1991 (Image via Everett Collection)Grand Canyon lodge, a historic building located at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, has been destroyed in one of the wildfires currently raging in Arizona. The lodge perished in the wildfire named the Dragon Bravo Fire, which also impacted around 50 to 80 structures, such as a wastewater treatment plant, the administrative building, employee housing, a gas station, noted the park’s Superintendent, Ed Keable, as per NBC News.
A notification on the lodge’s website also apprised people of the burning down of the lodge. It read:
“As stewards of some of our country's most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous other historic buildings at the Grand Canyon's North Rim…It is with heavy hearts that we share this devastating news. We know that Grand Canyon Lodge has meant as much to so many of you as it has to us.”
Noting that no loss of life occurred as a result of the fires, the notification stated,
“We are grateful that all our employees and guests have been safely evacuated, and we join the National Park Service in mourning the loss of these iconic and beloved structures.”
About the wildfire that burned down the Grand Canyon lodge
The Dragon Bravo Fire started on July 4 as a result of lightning, according to NBC News. Initially, the news outlet noted that fire officials adopted a confine and contain plan of action to deal with the fire, before transitioning to using more aggressive tactics to suppress the fire as it expanded to 7.8 square miles.
Another wildfire is parallel raging in Arizona, named the White Sage Fire.
In a news release dated July 13, the Grand Canyon National Park provided an update on the Dragon Bravo Fire. Noting that the Grand Canyon lodge perished in the wildfire, the news release stated,
“The Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening of July 12, resulting in a 500-acre expansion. Fire managers have confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins in the developed area.”
Sharing the strategies used by firefighters to control the spread of the fire around the Grand Canyon lodge, the release added,
“Aerial bucket drops were conducted to slow fire movement near the Grand Canyon Lodge and Transept Canyon. However, the use of aerial retardant was not feasible due to a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment facility, which required the evacuation of firefighting personnel from critical zones nearby…No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire’s escalation.”
As per the release, the North Rim region of the Grand Canyon National Park, in addition to nearby trails and campgrounds, will be closed to tourists of the remainder of the season.
About the historic Grand Canyon lodge
A National Historic Landmark, the Grand Canyon lodge was the only accommodating available to tourists in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Initially built in the early 20th century, the Grand Canyon lodge faced another fire in its early years in 1932 which almost destroyed it completely. However, the lodge comprising 120 cabins that surround it, was rebuilt in 1936 with efforts taken to preserve its stonework, according to the lodge’s website.
The lodge offered historic attractions such as a bronze statue of a donkey, named Brightly the Bison.
As per NBC News, frequent visitors of the lodge grieved over its destruction, and reminisced about the timeless quality of the historic structure.
The lodge was run by Aramark Destinations, which manages accommodations at around 60 other parks.
TOPICS: Grand Canyon lodge, Arizona, wildfires