The senators referenced the 2006 Warm Fire, another lightning-caused fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon that was initially allowed to burn as a wildland use fire. The Warm Fire ultimately destroyed 59,000 acres of land and nearly killed a thousand people.

The Grand Canyon Lodge, which burned in the Dragon Bravo Fire over the weekend of July 12-13, was on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

A wildfire has forced the Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim to close for the rest of the 2025 season and destroyed the lodge located in the park, a historic landmark, the National Park Service said.

The Dragon Bravo Fire engulfed the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim, destroying the landmark building and dozens of structures while firefighters battle a second blaze north of the canyon.

U.S. land managers have long known that they have a problem on their hands with overgrown forests and persistent drought.