Grand Canyon, Dragon Bravo wildfire
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A wildfire that tore through a historic Grand Canyon Lodge had been allowed to burn for days before erupting over the weekend, raising questions about federal officials' decision not to aggressively attack it right away.
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.
The Dragon Bravo Fire started on July 4 and was managed at first as a controlled burn. Then the wind picked up, and it quickly became uncontrollable.
The Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona has destroyed dozens of structures and a water treatment facility on the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
What fueled the explosive growth of the Dragon Bravo Fire was a mix of gusty winds, dry air and above-normal heat – weather conditions experts described as atypical for this time of year, when monsoonal moisture typically tamps down wildfire risk across Arizona.
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A water treatment facility at the North Rim had been compromised by the fire, causing chlorine gas to fall towards the bottom of the canyon.