NPCA Responds to Wildfires’ Destruction to Grand Canyon National Park

Over the weekend, the Dragon Bravo Fire and White Sage Fire tore through Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, closing the area for the season. The fire remains active and has already destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of other structures, including a visitor center, gas station, wastewater treatment plant, administrative offices and employee housing.

The destruction caused by this fire is a reminder of how vulnerable our national parks and residents nearby are to the impacts of a changing climate. NPCA stands ready to support efforts to rebuild and restore what’s been lost and ensure the National Park Service has the resources it needs to protect the Grand Canyon experience for the millions of visitors who travel there each year.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, built in 1927 following the wishes of then-Director of the National Park Service, Stephen Mather, is the only hotel within the park boundaries on the North Rim and one of the great historic lodges of the National Park System. This structure, severely affected by the wildfires, has housed generations of family visitors and weary hikers who traveled far and wide to witness the native Kaibab limestone and timber-built lodge and surrounding ponderosa pines.

Statement from Sanober Mirza, the National Parks Conservation Association’s Arizona Program Manager:

“As the fires continue to burn, we feel the weight of the devastating loss of the North Rim’s irreplaceable natural and historic resources, including the Grand Canyon Lodge. The remote North Rim is an incredibly special part of the Canyon and a place of connection for Indigenous communities, visitors, and the park staff who reside there. The destruction of buildings, including residential housing, is a profound tragedy that has left many North Rim residents without their homes and belongings. For so many, this was a place to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Canyon, where families gathered to watch a sunrise over the canyon walls or hikers across generations found rest.

“We are deeply grateful no lives were lost, as park staff quickly and safely evacuated visitors from at-risk areas in the canyon and along the North Rim. Park staff are the stewards of this iconic national park, and they demonstrated their critical role in caring for the park and its visitors every single day, even in crisis. This heartbreaking moment underscores the importance of fully funding and staffing our national parks now and for future generations.

“As wildfires and other disasters increase in frequency and intensity, parks need the proper resources to manage them. As staff evaluate the damage and the long road to recovery ahead, the National Parks Conservation Association will continue to support the stewards and storytellers who welcome visitors and dedicate their careers to protecting and sharing the significance of the Grand Canyon with the world.”