The Dragon Bravo fire started on July 4. With record fire rage wreaking destruction at the gates of the Grand Canyon for over a month now. Ignited by a lightning strike, this wildfire has rapidly expanded, consuming more than 123,000 acres of land on the northern rim, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. As of Monday, containment was at just 13%, pushing firefighting crews into an urgent all-hands-on-deck response.
More than 1,000 firefighting and other personnel have been deployed, with more than 1,000 of those actively fighting this fire. They are utilizing both aerial and ground tactics to manage the fire’s spread amidst challenging conditions. It’s a recipe for disaster and then strong winds have exacerbated the conditions. They are pushing flames into important infrastructure, including a key historic hotel, the North Rim Visitor Center, and guest cabins.
Ongoing Battle Against the Blaze
Firefighters have an overwhelming task in front of them as they try to get a grip on the Dragon Bravo fire. Historic weather conditions — with humidity dropping to an astonishing 4% — have pushed their work to the limit. That local topography has been an enormous help to incident commanders by allowing operations to calm down during daylight hours.
“In the southwest part of the fire, crews were able to go direct on the fire. Last night they walked sections of the perimeter searching for signs of heat, a process required before lines can be declared contained.”
This highly focused, strategic approach is extremely important. Fire crews and structures departments are actively patrolling and monitoring fire’s east and west flanks.
“Yesterday, crews patrolled and monitored the east and west flanks of the fire,” said incident commanders.
While firefighters are struggling with intense weather and difficult conditions, they have been supported by the pinyon-juniper fuels surrounding the region. As such, these monotypic grass/shrub/woodland types do not support fires as hot or expansive as more combustible mixed conifer or ponderosa pine stands.
“The pinyon-juniper fuels in the area will assist since they do not carry the fire as effectively as mixed conifer or ponderosa stands.”
Community Impact and Evacuations
The fire’s rapid advancement has not only threatened important natural resources, but has threatened nearby communities, including popular tourist destinations such as Yosemite National Park. Blistering flames have ravaged large portions of the northern rim, especially west toward Browning. In order to protect the public, state and local officials have provided evacuation orders for surrounding communities.
The Grand Canyon National Park is famous for its stunning vistas and draws more than 5 million visitors annually. In addition to the ecological and cultural value of this natural wonder, its infrastructure is at serious risk from such an unpredictable foe. The implications go even further than direct safety threats, with local businesses relying heavily on tourism dollars.
Future Outlook and Containment Efforts
Firefighters keep a wary eye on the trees around them as they conduct monitors patrols working to contain the Dragon Bravo fire. Due to the size of the fire, a multi-agency and multi-resource response is needed. This very low containment percentage means that firefighters are fully committed to stopping the further spread, protecting communities, lives, and homes from potential loss.
Despite all of these advancements, the return of dangerous fire weather conditions has made for a deeply frustrating season. Nevertheless, firefighting crews are resolute in their commitment to change firefighting tactics to meet these challenges head-on.