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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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The Dragon Bravo fire has prompted National Park Service (NPS) officials to close the Grand Canyon's North Rim entrance for the season.
Newsweek reached out to the NPS by email for comment.
Why It Matters
A lightning strike ignited the Dragon Bravo fire on July 4. Over the weekend, extreme heat, low humidity and fierce winds fueled the blaze and forced evacuations. On Sunday, the Grand Canyon National Park confirmed the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge and numerous historic cabins to the flames.
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What To Know
As of Monday, the fire has reached 5,716 acres and is 0 percent contained, according to the most recent update from InciWeb. In a news release published on Sunday, national park officials confirmed the closure of the North Rim for the remainder of the season.
"With continued active fire behavior and ongoing risks to personnel and infrastructure, the North Rim will remain closed to all visitor access for the remainder of the 2025 season," the press release said.
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Air Quality Impact From Wildfire Smoke
Animated weather footage from windy.com revealed some of the impact from the fire, such as localized PM2.5 pollution from wildfire smoke.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, posing heightened risks to vulnerable populations, including children, seniors and those with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions. Widespread exposure to PM2.5 can exacerbate existing diseases and bring about acute respiratory symptoms, even in healthy people.
No widespread air quality alerts have been issued, but NPS staff warned Grand Canyon hikers of smoke in the canyon.
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Fire Danger Across Arizona
In addition to the Dragon Bravo fire, much of Northern Arizona is under extreme fire danger.
Dry fuels, gusty winds and hot temperatures can contribute to fire danger. An extreme heat warning was in place for the Grand Canyon on Monday.
Dragon Bravo Fire Map
A map from the NPS showed the extent of the fire as it encroached on the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
In addition to the North Rim closure, "all inner canyon corridor trails, campgrounds and associated areas are closed until further notice," the NPS said.
That includes the North Kaibab Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens.
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What People Are Saying
The National Park Service, in a press release on Monday: "Preliminary assessments indicate that between 50 to 80 structures have been lost, including NPS administrative buildings and visitor facilities. No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire's escalation.
"The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy. Fire behavior is still very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts."
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