Editor's note: This updates fire acreage, activity, and personnel.
Crews battling the Dragon Bravo Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park Thursday took advantage of favorable weather to establish a fireline and continue full suppression efforts.
Efforts continued to protect remaining structures and important sites on the North Rim, according to a morning update.
"Fire behavior has decreased slightly due to recent weather events but remains dynamic and unpredictable," the update said.
The fire, which over the weekend claimed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of other buildings, including historic log guest cabins, covered more than 11,000 acres as of Thursday morning. Nearly 600 firefighters were attacking flames feeding on stands of ponderosa pine, aspen, and other conifers. That number climbed from 400 on Tuesday.
Sparked by lightning on July 4, the fire was initially managed with a confine and contain strategy, which included multiple containment features to protect structures, facilities, and infrastructure. However, winds out of the northwest gusting to 40 mph on Friday pushed the fire to the lip of the rim and into the lodge and other facilities and vehicles.
Crews were also able to fully extinguish another lightning-caused fire this week in the nearby Swamp Lake area.
The National Park Service has closed the North Rim to visitors for the rest of the year. Also remaining closed Thursday were:
• North Kaibab Trail and South Kaibab Trail
• Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Garden. 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 Garden and Tip Off
• All backcountry routes and canyoneering routes stemming from the North or South Kaibab, or the Bright Angel Trail.
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