'Just say a prayer': Dragon Bravo Fire nears Kaibab Lodge

FREDONIA, Ariz. - We're hearing from the owner of a lodge in Fredonia, as the Dragon Bravo Fire is now threatening more historic buildings as it continues to grow, and its containment decreases.

What they're saying:

"This is the patio you can see here," said Larry Innes.

It's a scary sight for Innes, owner of Kaibab Lodge, as the Dragon Bravo Fire nears his 35-acre property.

"We are planning to celebrate its 100-year anniversary next year. It was built in 1926," he said.

The fire is coming close to his property, which is located 5 miles outside the Grand Canyon National Park entrance.

"It's on the other side of the road and the winds are blowing northeast, coming out of the south," he said. "And the winds have been cooperating. And it's actually the main the head of the fire has gone by the store, and it's missed the store by about a mile and a half."

Today's fire was a close call, but firefighters are doing everything they can to save the lodge.

"There's a thousand firemen up there. I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen so much equipment. And they are all focused on saving the lodge. I mean, we're the only buildings up here next to Jacob's Lake, which is 25 miles away. So all the efforts have been here," said Innes.

In return, Innes has put all his effort into offering up resources to firefighters.

"The lodge has prepared over 3,000 meals, and we've provided lodging for them some of the time, but they're from all over the country," he said.

‘Just say a prayer’

Innes has been in close contact with firefighters who tell him that with the winds clawing to the Northeast, they're hoping the fire drops into the canyon and burns out.

"Just say a prayer, I mean, it's kind of out of our hands. I mean, the things are working our way right now and let's hope it keeps going that way for the next few days," he said.

Some families suffered heavy losses

Local perspective:

As the fire continues to burn, more buildings and homes are being consumed by the flames, and one family, the Ryans, lost nearly everything.

The Ryans say they escaped just in the nick of time, but like nearly all of their now-former neighbors on the Rim, they no longer have a place to stay.

"It was a special place because it was so green and lush," said Beth Ryan. "You smell this damp pine in the spring after everything is melted, and you’re smelling – it’s better than a candle, you know?"

Beth and her husband, Bill, have lived in the North Rim since 2019 as National Park employees, and earlier this month, they watched as the plumes from the Dragon Bravo Fire grew bigger, and the flames grew more fierce.

Soon, the Ryans had to leave.

"The fire crews said we had to get out of there, and we only have an hour," Beth recounted. "We ran home and started packing our Subaru with what we could, but I had such little time, I couldn’t get everything I wanted."

Within hours after the Ryans got out, their home was gone. As the family drove to another place to stay, they were remembered of everything they lost.

"Literally every hour, we would look at each other and be like ‘Oh no. The wedding gifts,'" Beth recounted. "This went on for about eight hours."

The Ryans are currently staying with loved ones.

"I think we are all at this stage where we are, like, ‘wow,’" Beth said. "We just have to pick up their pieces of our lives again."

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