With 472 Sq Km Scorched, Grand Canyon Wildfire Marks One Of Arizona’s Worst In History

What began as a lightning strike on the Walhalla Plateau inside Grand Canyon National Park on July 4 has now evolved into a ferocious blaze consuming over 472 square kilometres of forest and infrastructure. The Dragon Bravo Fire has become one of Arizona’s ten largest wildfires on record.

Grand Canyon Fire: 472 Sq Km Scorched

Dragon Bravo & White Sage fires on north rim, Grand Canyon today still raging: pic.twitter.com/7bU74bhZEb

— Carl Hassell (@CarlHassell4) August 2, 2025

According to Business Standard, driven by dry timber, low humidity, and relentless gusts, the fire’s growth has outpaced containment efforts for nearly a month. At last count, 1,214 personnel, aided by a fleet of helicopters and air tankers, were working around the clock to contain the perimeter. They’ve been leveraging graded forest roads, canyon walls, and the charred remains of past wildfires as makeshift containment lines. 

The destruction has not remained confined to remote wilderness. On July 12, winds whipped the flames directly into the lodge district, where the fire tore through the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, built in the 1920s, along with its stone-walled dining hall, surrounding pine-clad guest cabins, and multiple utility buildings. According to park officials, the entire compound was engulfed in less than two hours. What stood for a century as a landmark of rustic American tourism is now a field of ash. 

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Everything You Need To Know About The Fire

Evacuations began early, with 500 visitors removed by July 10 as the fire’s footprint surged. In total, over 900 people and 54 trail mules have been safely relocated. No casualties have been reported so far. Weather forecasts now hint at a potential reprieve. A pocket of monsoon moisture is expected to drift over northern Arizona by midweek. This will bring higher humidity and a chance of rain, two variables that could significantly alter the firefighting landscape. But fire behaviour remains unpredictable, and officials are cautious.

This fire is not an isolated event. The 2025 wildfire season has already emerged as one of the most volatile in U.S. history. According to data from the National Interagency Fire Centre, more than 41,000 wildfires have torched nearly 3 million acres nationwide. These figures far exceed the 10-year average. Other major blazes include Oregon’s megafire (95,000+ acres), California’s Madre Fire (80,000 acres), and Arizona’s own White Sage Fire (58,000 acres), as reported by Business Standard.

Also Read: 8 Interesting Facts About The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, The World’s Highest Bridge

What was once preserved for its natural and historic beauty now finds itself etched into a different kind of history. 

Cover Image Courtesy: carlhassell4/X