Dragon Bravo Fire grows, burning over 145,000 acres in the Grand Canyon
Dragon Bravo Fire's containment slowly grows
In Sunday's update on the Dragon Bravo Fire, acreage remained the same, but containment slightly grew. Here's the latest on the fire burning in the Grand Canyon.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.. - The Dragon Bravo Fire is the largest fire ever recorded in the Grand Canyon.
Crews knew that on August 1, they had a very small window of opportunity to get containment on the fire. At the South Rim, skies are clear, but 11 miles across the Grand Canyon, plumes of black smoke cover the horizon, but it has not slowed down summer tourism.
What we know:
In the fire's fourth week, it continued to grow to the north, east, and west, now threatening the Kaibab Lodge. Crews have faced difficult conditions.
"The north rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the most difficult places to fight fire. If you think about the Grand Canyon as a firebreak, it also funnels winds and creates its own difficult weather," said Lisa Jennings, a public information officer for Southwest Incident Management.
Dragon Bravo Fire: Evacuation order remains in effect
The wildfire burning at the north rim of the Grand Canyon is closing in on 112,000 acres and 9% containment as a "GO" evacuation order remains in effect for the north rim area. FOX 10's Kenzie Beach reports.
What they're saying:
The Dragon Bravo Fire has not stopped visitors from coming to one of the United States' busiest national parks.
"We're from Saint Louis, Missouri," said the Sauter family.
"From the Czech Republic," said another tourist.
"Visiting from Virginia," said Jerry Mrykalo.
"From Daejeon, Korea," said Kim Kwang Yu.
"Washington, D.C.," said another.
"From Germany," said Frank Tahhan.
Neighbors speak at Dragon Bravo Fire community meeting
On Aug. 5, fire crews and National Park Service officials held a public meeting on the fire, which continues to grow near the Grand Canyon. The lightning-caused fire has burned more than 130,000 acres and is only 13% contained.
70 structures have burned, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim, a place German traveler Frank Tahhan and his family had planned to stay.
"We was booked on the North Rim in the lodge. And we get this notice that it's not possible anymore to enter. And the lodge is destroyed," Tahhan said.
Like many others, they opted for the South Rim.
"A mixture of enjoying and also being aware that much of the natural history is being destroyed," Tahhan said.
"We had already planned the South Rim and it's not that crowded. We were a little bit surprised," Mrykalo said.
Video captured by fire personnel shows the power of the wind carrying the flames during July 31's red flag warning, with wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour.
"We saw a jump of 20,000 acres in a single day," Jennings said.