Grand Canyon evacuated as bushfire spreads

Fast-spreading wildfires have forced the evacuation of part of the Grand Canyon, with the US National Park Service ordering visitors and residents away from its northern rim.

In this photo provided by the US National Park Service, smoke from wildfires settles over Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. Picture: Joelle Baird/Grand Canyon National Park

Fast-spreading wildfires have forced the evacuation of part of the Grand Canyon, with the US National Park Service ordering visitors and residents away from its northern rim.

“Due to the advancing Dragon Bravo Fire within Grand Canyon National Park, all North Rim residents are now in ‘GO’ status and should evacuate the North Rim immediately,” the National Park Service said in an X post on Friday afternoon.

The Dragon Bravo Fire, which was sparked by lightning and has been burning since July 4, was 61ha in size on Friday evening and zero per cent contained, a US government incident report said.

Park Service staff had already cleared the North Rim, which is less popular with tourists than the South Rim, of some 500 visitors.

Day-use access to the area was also closed due to a larger blaze called the White Sage Fire, which was burning outside the Grand Canyon National Park.

However, it was approaching Jacob Lake, Arizona, a small settlement known as the gateway to the North Rim.

About 4441ha have been scorched by the White Sage Fire which is zero-per cent contained, say authorities, who released images of large columns of smoke rising above the scrubby desert.

Jon Paxton, press officer for the Coconino County sheriff’s office, said a hotel and some businesses had been emptied.

“Most of the folks we evacuated were campers,” he said. “This area is high desert and mostly open forest for camping.”

The White Sage Fire was also started by lightning, during a thunderstorm on July 9.

“Crews encountered very extreme fire behaviour due to the dry conditions (and) gusty and erratic winds inhibiting the ability for firefighters to safely engage the fire,” the Bureau of Land Management said.

This aerial view shows part of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, including several bends of the Colorado River, last week. Picture: AFP

One of the great wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eroding layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 30km wide and 1.6km deep.

Park Service advised against any hiking into the canyon, due to extreme heat and wildfire smoke.

A 67-year-old man died on Tuesday while attempting to reach the river in hot conditions.

Another popular site, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, was also closed over the weekend because of a wildfire.

This photo provided by the Bureau of Land Management shows aerial resources working to suppress th White Sage wildfire burning north of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Picture via AP

Firefighters saved Black Canyon’s visitor centre along the South Rim by removing dry vegetation and coating the building in a layer of protective material, fire officials said.

Small aircraft from Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control dropped retardant from the sky on Friday while ground crews tried to contain the burn. Some park equipment and sheds were damaged.

AFP