North Rim Dragon Bravo fire
Posted: Jul 15 2025 2:05 pm
Hey y'all, I know you've all seen the news and you know I moved to Grand Canyon a lifetime ago so ... 
Here are some answers to the most common questions I've gotten so far, let me know if you have others
-Yes I'm safe and well, thank you!
-Yes the mule are alive and safe. When the employees were told to evacuate the mule, wranglers made the difficult decision to release the mules from their pens. The mules just kind of hung around their corral until they were scooped up and taken back to their main Ranch in Utah over the weekend. All were accounted for alive and well.
-Yes, the bison are fine and just doing bison things. They seem unbothered by the whole disaster. Fire crews last spotted them in Big Meadow by the entrance station far away from the Dragon Bravo fire perimeter.
-Yes the lodge and Backcountry Office were completely burned down. The stone skeleton of the lodge remains, I'm sure you've all seen photos by now.
-No definitive word on Brighty the burro statue yet, the lobby and entrance of the lodge are completely destroyed. Fire crews have been unable to safely assess the inside of the lodge, let alone the Sun Room where the bronze Brighty statue was.
**updated info 3:25pm July 15, 2025 - Brighty statue did not survive. Hes still mostly in one piece but has been melted open and lost his fee, his little nose is still intact.**
-Yes, All human life was evacuated safely. NPS employees are being taken care of on the South Rim, many sections of the South Rim village has been blocked off to prevent reporters and lookie Lous from invading privacy while these folks attempt to recover from the horror of the situation.
-Yes, many people lost the homes they were living in up there, including RVs and trailers. Some homes have survived including the newer NPS apartments and the concession lodge employee dorms (this could change as the fire is zero percent contained).
-No, roaring springs pumphouse where we get our water from is not actively in danger.
-Yes, the fire is in the side canyon known as Roaring springs canyon and has reached down (as of last update) as far as just below Supai Tunnel.
Historically no wildfire that had it's origins above the Redwall limestone has ever dropped below the Redwall limestone. That rock layer could be the saving grace for Roaring springs pumphouse if the fire continues to spread down canyon.
I'm sure there's so much more to share but I'm very tired and emotionally drained. Thanks everyone for checking in on me.
Evacuations & Closures as of July, 15, 2025:
Due to the smoke accumulation in the inner canyon resulting from the Dragon Bravo Fire, and impaired emergency response access in the smoke-filled canyon, the following areas remain closed to all visitor use:
North Kaibab Trail and South Kaibab Trail
Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens. River exchanges are allowed to pass through this area at their discretion.
Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. River runners are not to stop at Boat Beach, but may continue to Pipe Creek beach for exchanges.
River Trail between Pipe Creek and the South Kaibab
Tonto East between Havasupai Gardens and Tip Off
All backcountry routes and canyoneering routes stemming from the North or South Kaibab, or the Bright Angel Trail.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will remain closed for the duration of the 2025 season. U.S. Route 89A remains closed between Fredonia and Bitter Springs. The North Kaibab Ranger District of the National Forest is closed
Here are some answers to the most common questions I've gotten so far, let me know if you have others
-Yes I'm safe and well, thank you!
-Yes the mule are alive and safe. When the employees were told to evacuate the mule, wranglers made the difficult decision to release the mules from their pens. The mules just kind of hung around their corral until they were scooped up and taken back to their main Ranch in Utah over the weekend. All were accounted for alive and well.
-Yes, the bison are fine and just doing bison things. They seem unbothered by the whole disaster. Fire crews last spotted them in Big Meadow by the entrance station far away from the Dragon Bravo fire perimeter.
-Yes the lodge and Backcountry Office were completely burned down. The stone skeleton of the lodge remains, I'm sure you've all seen photos by now.
-No definitive word on Brighty the burro statue yet, the lobby and entrance of the lodge are completely destroyed. Fire crews have been unable to safely assess the inside of the lodge, let alone the Sun Room where the bronze Brighty statue was.
**updated info 3:25pm July 15, 2025 - Brighty statue did not survive. Hes still mostly in one piece but has been melted open and lost his fee, his little nose is still intact.**
-Yes, All human life was evacuated safely. NPS employees are being taken care of on the South Rim, many sections of the South Rim village has been blocked off to prevent reporters and lookie Lous from invading privacy while these folks attempt to recover from the horror of the situation.
-Yes, many people lost the homes they were living in up there, including RVs and trailers. Some homes have survived including the newer NPS apartments and the concession lodge employee dorms (this could change as the fire is zero percent contained).
-No, roaring springs pumphouse where we get our water from is not actively in danger.
-Yes, the fire is in the side canyon known as Roaring springs canyon and has reached down (as of last update) as far as just below Supai Tunnel.
Historically no wildfire that had it's origins above the Redwall limestone has ever dropped below the Redwall limestone. That rock layer could be the saving grace for Roaring springs pumphouse if the fire continues to spread down canyon.
I'm sure there's so much more to share but I'm very tired and emotionally drained. Thanks everyone for checking in on me.
Evacuations & Closures as of July, 15, 2025:
Due to the smoke accumulation in the inner canyon resulting from the Dragon Bravo Fire, and impaired emergency response access in the smoke-filled canyon, the following areas remain closed to all visitor use:
North Kaibab Trail and South Kaibab Trail
Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens. River exchanges are allowed to pass through this area at their discretion.
Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. River runners are not to stop at Boat Beach, but may continue to Pipe Creek beach for exchanges.
River Trail between Pipe Creek and the South Kaibab
Tonto East between Havasupai Gardens and Tip Off
All backcountry routes and canyoneering routes stemming from the North or South Kaibab, or the Bright Angel Trail.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will remain closed for the duration of the 2025 season. U.S. Route 89A remains closed between Fredonia and Bitter Springs. The North Kaibab Ranger District of the National Forest is closed
