The Dragon Bravo Fire has burned more than 8,500 acres southeast of the Grand Canyon. The fire was sparked by lightning on July 4 and has destroyed dozens of structures on the North Rim, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

The National Park Service is defending its decisions regarding letting the Dragon Bravo Fire burn before it got out of control.

The North Rim will be closed through the rest of the 2025 season, at least. That is a blow to small businesses around the Grand Canyon that rely on tourists in the summer. “It’s a lot to be trying to comprehend and to figure out what to do,” said Rich.

Arizona officials are pressing for an investigation into the National Park Service's handling of the Dragon Bravo Fire, which spread after being managed as a controlled burn.

The National Park Service is defending its handling of a lightning-sparked wildfire that destroyed the nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of historic cabins, saying containment lines had been built around the blaze and crews were prepared to conduct defensive firing operations.

Gov. Katie Hobbs and Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego are calling for an independent investigation into how federal officials managed the Dragon Bravo Fire burning on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.