(Flagstaff) A rapidly evolving forest fire destroyed a historic pavilion and dozens of other structures on the northern bank of the Grand Canyon, forcing the authorities to close access to the North Shore for the season, the park authorities announced on Sunday.
The Grand Canyon Lodge, the only place of accommodation inside the north bank of the park, was consumed by the flames, said the director of the park, Ed Keable, residents and staff at a meeting on Sunday morning.
He added that the visitors’ reception center, the service station, a wastewater treatment plant, an administrative building and some employee dwellings were among the 50 to 80 lost structures. Many historic huts in the region have also been destroyed.
Two forest fires burn near the north shore: the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. It was the latter who touched the Grand Canyon Lodge and other structures.
The fire quickly gained momentum to reach 20 square kilometers due to hot temperatures, the low humidity and wind.
No one injured was reported.
Millions of people visit the Grand Canyon National Park each year, most of them go to the most popular southern shore. The north shore is open seasonally. It was evacuated last Thursday due to the fire and will remain closed until the end of the season, the park said in a statement.
The firefighters on the north shore and hikers were evacuated during the weekend. The park said that in addition to the risk of fire, they could be exposed to gas chlorine after the fire treatment plant. Gas chlorine is heavier than air and can cause vision disorders, irritation or respiratory problems if it is inhaled in large quantities, depending on the centers for the control and prevention of diseases.
Rafting enthusiasts on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon were also invited to bypass Phantom Ranch, which has a set of huts and dormitories along the river.
The Grand Canyon Lodge is often the first striking element that visitors see, even before visiting the Canyon. Crossing the hall and descending a staircase, visitors could have a first view of the Grand Canyon through the windows of the “Salle du Soleil”.
Aramark, the company that managed the chalet, said that all employees and customers had been evacuated safely.
“As guards of some of the most popular national treasures in our country, we are devastated by this loss,” said spokesperson Debbie Albert.
According to the Grand Canyon Historical Society, the original pavilion burned following a fire in the kitchen in 1932, four years after the completion of construction. The new pavilion, which uses the original stones, opened its doors in 1937.
Meanwhile, the authorities have reported progress in the fight against a second forest fire which burns north of the Grand Canyon and which forced the evacuation of the north shore and the community of Jacob Lake. Sunday afternoon, the fire had burned 162 square kilometers of land.
On the southern side of the fire, the spread was minimal, but in the east and north, the fire spread quickly, the herbs and the dead trees contributing to the intensity of the fire.
The fire descends to the Vermilion Cliffs area. The teams assess the possibility of creating buffer areas that would help slow or stop its progress.
