The North Rim area of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, USA was forced to close on Thursday, July 10th, due to a nearby lightning strike sparking a wildfire. The thick smoke filled the air, leading to the emergency evacuation of approximately 500 visitors.
Employees and residents in the North Rim area were instructed to shelter in place. The Bureau of Land Management stated that a thunderstorm passing through the Jacob Lake area on July 9th ignited the wildfire. Due to strong gusts and erratic winds, firefighters faced challenges in containing the blaze, which continued to spread on July 10th. By the afternoon of July 11th, the fire had consumed 13.5 square miles and remained uncontained.
The Grand Canyon was shrouded in thick smoke on July 10th, as confirmed by park officials. About 500 visitors who had planned to overnight in the park were evacuated the previous night.
During the initial response, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office mentioned they assisted in evacuating residents north of Jacob Lake and campers in the nearby Kaibab National Forest.
Melinda Rich, owner of Jacob Lake Inn, reported that on July 10th, they swiftly evacuated 75 staff members and guests, clearing about 35 rental cabins. Rich mentioned that some guests had just checked in when they received the evacuation notice from the Sheriff’s Office, prompting staff to contact those who were out exploring.
“It was a tough situation for us because half of the rooms were booked, so we had to issue full refunds, which posed a significant financial challenge for us. But we also feel sorry for those visitors who were experiencing the Grand Canyon for the first time,” she said.
Rich noted that this evacuation was a precautionary measure, recalling a wildfire in 2020 that approached the inn, with some cabins being just about 20 feet away from the flames. She mentioned, “It was truly a miracle back then, we kept praying, and then the wind happened to shift a bit, diverting the fire just about a mile away from us.”
Simultaneously, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, approximately 260 miles from Denver, was temporarily closed due to bilateral wildfires sparked by lightning strikes, with no specified reopening time.
As of July 11th, the wildfire in the North Rim has been extinguished, but the one in the South Rim remains uncontrolled. The South Rim fire began on July 10th and has burned roughly 2.5 square miles to date.
Fire officials mentioned that by clearing dry vegetation and applying protective materials to outer building structures, they successfully protected the visitor center at the South Rim of the Black Canyon. Additionally, light aircraft from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control worked in coordination with ground personnel to drop flame retardants to contain the fire.
Officials from the National Park stated that only some equipment and shelters suffered damage, but recent high temperatures, dry vegetation, low humidity, and strong winds have elevated the risk of wildfires.
Although the monsoon season (June to September) brings significant rainfall to the dry western United States, it can also trigger thunderstorms and subsequent wildfires. With worsening drought conditions, wildfires remain a primary crisis in the western US.