About
Ignition
The largest US wildfire of 2025 began small. On July 4th, 2025, a lightning strike hit the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Following a season where the North Rim received only half its average annual precipitation, the landscape was critically dry. Responders had already committed resources to containing the nearby White Sage Fire, so Dragon Bravo began as a deceptively small incident, smoldering in the deep timber.
The Fire
For the first week, the fire behavior remained moderate, consuming only a handful of acres. But on July 11th, the window of opportunity closed. An alignment of dry vegetation and intense afternoon winds caused the fire to stand up and run.
Within hours, Dragon Bravo transitioned from a manageable incident to a landscape-altering event. The explosive growth forced immediate evacuations of National Park visitors and staff as the flames pushed aggressively toward historic park infrastructure. By the end of July, what had been a spot fire had consumed 50,000 acres before making a massive run, doubling in size to over 100,000 acres in a matter of days.
The Aftermath
The fight to contain Dragon Bravo lasted for grueling months, with 100% containment finally achieved in late September. The toll was heavy: 145,000 acres of iconic American landscape burned, and suppression costs exceeded $100 million. Tragically, the fire claimed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a cultural touchstone standing since 1927, along with the property of park staff and visitors, critical park infrastructure, and habitat for endangered species.
However, the devastation tells only half the story. The other half is defined by the tireless work of the incident commanders, hotshot crews, and emergency responders who held the line to prevent further catastrophe. Today, the focus shifts to restoration. While the scars on the land remain, the effort to rehabilitate the soil and protect the Canyon for future generations continues – a testament to the resilience of the land and the people who protect it.