New photos of the Grand Canyon show Dragon Bravo Fire devastation
GRAND CANYON - We're getting a look at the devastation in the Grand Canyon's North Rim left behind by the Dragon Bravo Fire.
What we know:
The fire has burned over 71,000 acres and is only 13% contained as of July 29. It started on the Fourth of July.
The National Park Service released photos of the fire's aftermath, which include the burned-down historic Grand Canyon Lodge. Other photos show the smoke-filled canyon and charred red rocks.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service
What they're saying:
Lawmakers are demanding an investigation into the Dragon Bravo Fire, specifically questioning the National Park Service's decision to let the lightning-caused blaze continue as a controlled burn
Arizona Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly have sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, expressing concern that "treatment and response decisions may have affected the spread of fire in northern Arizona, and not for the first time."
The senators referenced the 2006 Warm Fire, another lightning-caused fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that was initially allowed to burn as a wildland use fire. The Warm Fire ultimately destroyed 59,000 acres of land and nearly killed a thousand people.
This fire has decimated parts of Grand Canyon National Park, leading Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to criticize the federal government's response. She's calling for an independent investigation into the fire's management.
She released a statement on July 13, saying, in full, "I am incredibly saddened by the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and my heart goes out to every person impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. As someone who was born and raised in Arizona, I know what the Grand Canyon National Park means to so many people, not just in Arizona, but all over the world, and how devastating it is to see this damage done to one of Arizona’s most cherished landmarks. I thank every firefighter and first responder for their unwavering commitment in taking action to combat the flames, and the state will continue to support and aid in suppressing the fire and protecting Arizonans.
An incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government’s emergency response. They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage. But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park. While the flame was started with a lightning strike, the federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer.
I am calling for the federal government to conduct a comprehensive, thorough, and independent investigation into the management of the Dragon Bravo Fire, and to produce a report detailing the decisions that led to this devastating outcome. As wildfires become more frequent and more intense, Arizona deserves nothing less than an aggressive and proactive emergency response from federal partners to ensure Arizonan’s lives, homes, businesses and natural resources are preserved."
'She is not going to second guess decisions made’
Gov. Hobbs toured the North Rim on July 19, giving off a bit of a different tone from her July 13 statement.
"As a lifelong Arizonan, it's a reminder of the shared stewardship that we have of this land, and this iconic treasure of the Grand Canyon. So, we're going to do everything we can to help support managing this fire, then get to rebuilding," Gov. Hobbs said. "I'm not an expert, and I'm not second guessing anyone's choices. I think we have to make sure that, regardless of this being federal land or not, we have a shared stewardship and that we are doing everything we can to protect these resources and how we respond to crises like this."
She added, "I was encouraged to hear that this is a priority for the federal government to get that kind of mitigation done as quickly as possible."
Gov. Hobbs' office provided this statement when FOX 10 asked why the apparent change in messaging about the fire's management.
"There is no change in messaging. The governor remains concerned about the decision to allow a controlled burn during the hottest and driest part of the Arizona summer and believes there needs to be an investigation into the decision-making process to provide Arizonans answers and ensure a tragedy like the Dragon Bravo Fire doesn’t happen again.
But at the same time, she is not going to second guess decisions made until she has more information on the decision-making process by the federal government. The investigation she’s calling for will help provide that important clarity for her and the people of Arizona who deserve transparency."
Hobbs is scheduled to travel to Washington D.C. next week to meet with federal officials, including Secretary Burgum, to discuss the fire response.
Local Impacts:
The park's North Rim is closed due to the fire, but the South Rim remains open to visitors.
What you can do:
Click here to learn more about visiting the Grand Canyon.
Click here for the most up-to-date information on the fire.