PHOENIX – North Rim’s historic Grand Canyon Lodge was consumed by wildfires, Grand Canyon National Park officials said on July 13.
Two wildfires burning about 30 miles north of the Grand Canyon had grown to over 45,000 acres by July 13, according to state and federal firefighters. Opened in 1937, the lodge was about five and a half hours north of Metro Phoenix and was the only hotel in North Rim’s national park.
Park officials said the wildfires burned between 50 and 80 structures on the northern edge.
The inner canyon, including the Phantom Ranch, was closed, as was the path to the inner canyon as the water treatment facility on the north edge had been damaged by fire and leaked chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is toxic and heavier than air and can settle down at the lower part of the canyon.
Park officials said the gas leak prevented firefighters from falling, forcing firefighters to evacuate.
A vast area was placed under evacuation orders, with the Kaibab Plateau, from the Utah-Arizona Line to the Grand Canyon. Firefighters urged the public to avoid the area. Highway 89A was closed in Fredonia and Bitter Springs, while the north and south Kaibabu trails and the Bright Angel Trail under Havas Spy Garden were closed to hikers.
According to the National Park Service, the original North Rim Lodge was built for the Union Pacific Railway and quickly reestablished the cafeteria and recreation hall after the 1932 fire.
The new lodge sat on the former foundation and used many of the original materials, but according to the National Park Service, it was reduced in its design, removing the second story and observation deck, which were part of the original.
Architect Gilber Stanley Underwood followed National Park Services guidelines requiring that the buildings represent the environment. According to the National Park Service, the lodge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
“We are devastated by the loss of Grand Canyon Lodge.”
There are several other hotels nearby the main visitor hub in North Rim, at least far from the edge of the canyon. According to the National Park Service, a lodge building made of limestone facades was fed nearby, allowing giant Ponderosa pine trees to become support beams to hold a sloped roof that could support snow loading.
Aramark operated Grand Canyon Lodge. Aramark spokesman Debbie Albert has confirmed the loss of property.
“We are devastated by the loss of Grand Canyon Lodge and many other historic buildings in the North Rim of Grand Canyon,” Albert said. “We are grateful that all our employees and guests are safe evacuation and are participating in the National Park Service, lamenting the loss of these iconic and beloved structures.”
The property consisted of a main lodge building with 23 deluxe cabins and over 90 regular cabins. The original lodge, which opened in late September 1932, was burned out in September 1932 by a fire. The fire destroyed the lodge within minutes and fled the lodge staff in the early hours, according to the National Park Service.
Among the typical amenities at hotels was the lodge complex, which included saloons, delis, coffee shops, post offices, gift shops and visitor centres. They were all up and running before Wildfire closed North Rim to visitors, according to the National Park Service.
White Sage, Dragon Bravo Wild Fire burns on the north edge
The White Sage’s Fire to the north of the two fires burned 40,126 acres. Smoke was first reported on the evening of July 9th after a thunderstorm. According to Inciweb, the fire was caused by lightning and strengthened by strong winds and low relative humidity. According to BLM, it burned grass, shrubs and native pinion juniper trees.
The Dragon Bravo Fire, burning south within Grand Canyon National Park, has reached 5,000 acres, according to federal wildfire tracker Inciweb.
The Dragon Bravo Fire was responsible for burning the North Rim structure, including the historic lodge. According to Inciweb, hot, dry and windy conditions promote growth, and flames spread across pine forests of mixed coniferous trees, aspen and ponderosa.
Over 500 firefighters were assigned to the White Sage fire, and 70 were assigned to the Dragon Bravo Fire. Both fires remained 0% containment on the morning of July 13th.
