A wildfire fanned by winds gusting to 40 mph destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and surrounding cabins at Grand Canyon National Park, where the North Rim had been closed to the public since last week due to another fire.

No injuries were reported from the dramatic spread Saturday of the Dragon Bravo Fire, which had been sparked by lightning July 4 and was being managed for "resource objectives."

The blaze, which blew up under "sustained winds of 20 mph and gusts reaching 40 mph," rapidly spread 500 acres and into the park's lodging area on the North Rim. It also reached the water treatment facilities on the rim, spurring a chlorine gas leak from the facilities that prompted officials to close the North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and the South Kaibab Trail.

Fire managers confirmed the loss of the lodge, which sits on the edge of the North Rim, and "numerous historic cabins in the developed area," a park release said.

"Firefighters made significant efforts overnight to slow the fire’s progression under dangerous and fast-changing conditions," the release noted. "Aerial bucket drops were conducted to slow fire movement near the Grand Canyon Lodge and Transept Canyon. However, the use of aerial retardant was not feasible due to a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment facility, which required the evacuation of firefighting personnel from critical zones nearby."

Preliminary assessments indicate that between 50 to 80 structures were lost, including National Park Service administrative buildings and visitor facilities. "No injuries or loss of life have been reported, and all staff and residents were successfully evacuated prior to the fire’s escalation," the park reported.

"The fire is being managed with an aggressive full suppression strategy. Fire behavior is still very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts," the release said.

On Sunday fire managers began ordering retardant drops on the east side of the developed area, including the Roaring Springs drainage. "With continued active fire behavior and ongoing risks to personnel and infrastructure, the North Rim will remain closed to all visitor access for the remainder of the 2025 season," the release said.

Additionally, all inner canyon corridor trails, campgrounds, and associated areas are closed until further notice, including:

* North Kaibab Trail

* South Kaibab Trail

* Bright Angel Trail

* Phantom Ranch

* Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens

The primary objectives of current fire operations remain:

* Protecting the lives and safety of firefighting personnel and the public,

* Preserving the remaining structures on the North Rim, and

* Safeguarding cultural and natural resources within Grand Canyon National Park.

Grand Canyon Lodge was built by the Union Pacific Railroad. The first lodge on the North Rim burned in 1932 and had been replaced on the same site with the current lodge by 1936. As David and Kay Scott, the Traveler's lodging experts have noted in their book on park lodges, the main Grand Canyon Lodge "housed a registration area, dining room, sun room, and an auditorium. A large terrace with chairs skirts the back of the building."