Grand Canyon Lodge Destroyed as Twin Wildfires Force Evacuations and Park Closures

Grand Canyon National Park is facing a major emergency as two separate wildfires force evacuations and destroy structures, including the nearly 100-year-old Grand Canyon Lodge.

According to park officials, hundreds of tourists and residents have been airlifted or evacuated from the area as flames swept through the park’s North Rim. Amanda Travis and Jaime Coffin, who had just arrived at Phantom Ranch Lodge, were among those rescued by helicopter.

“We took off, and it was immediate relief that we were going to be saved,” Travis said.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging facility on the park’s North Rim, was lost to the fire along with 50 to 80 other structures, according to Tom Sulpizio, president of the Grand Canyon Historical Society.

“Cabins, campgrounds, there’s a Park Service Ranger Station, and there’s a visitor center, and all of those were lost,” Sulpizio said. “It’s somber here.”

Gusty winds and triple-digit temperatures are making containment efforts even more challenging. The region is under a heat warning through Wednesday.

In Colorado, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has also been closed due to wildfires. Satellite images captured flames visible from space.

Additionally, smoke from Canadian wildfires is blanketing parts of the Upper Midwest. Areas from Minnesota to Michigan are experiencing unhealthy air quality levels, affecting millions of residents.

The National Park Service is working with state and federal agencies as efforts continue to control the fires and assess the full scope of damage.

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