The Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona has destroyed dozens of structures and a water treatment facility on the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

The destruction caused by this fire is a reminder of how vulnerable our national parks and residents nearby are to the impacts of a changing climate. NPCA stands ready to support efforts to rebuild and restore what’s been lost and ensure the National Park Service has the resources it needs to protect the Grand Canyon experience for the millions of visitors who travel there each year.

The fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon started from a lightning strike but was managed as a controlled burn until it spread.

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.

"Though it was definitely not your average vacation trip, everything worked out okay. We made the best of it," Russ Christian said.

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.

The Grand Canyon Lodge was the park's one and only hotel, according the National Park Service, with the next nearest lodgings roughly 18 miles away.

Crews fighting a wildfire were focused on stopping the flames from consuming nearby cabins, a water pumping station, mule stables and other structures, fire officials said.

The lightning-sparked South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has burned 3,556 acres with no containment and mandatory evacuations remain in place.