Historian Remembers The Historic Grand Canyon Lodge That Burnt To The Ground In Mid-July

On July 12th, 2025, the historic Grand Canyon Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park burnt to the ground in the devastating Dragon Bravo Fire. As the fire grew closer to the lodge, fire activity intensified with the help of 20-40mph winds. Crews conducted aerial bucket drops to slow movement near the lodge and the Transept Canyon, but they couldn’t use aerial retardant due to a nearby chlorine gas leak. YouTube historian “The History Guy” took the time to remember and highlight the iconic lodge.

About ‘The History Guy’

“I have always loved history and believe that history does not have to be boring. At its heart, history is story telling, and I believe that it should be told with passion and genuine love for the material. History might be tragic, it might be comic, but it is the story of who we are, and we should not be afraid to enjoy that story, and be moved by it. I live in the American Midwest, talk too fast but am working on that, and tie my own bow ties. Yes, the hats in the background are mine.” – The History Guy

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Dragon Bravo Fire Update

The Dragon Bravo Fire continues to burn in Grand Canyon National Park at just 62% containment. The wildfire has reached 145,500 acres, and 670 personnel are currently working to contain it. The most recent update from InciWeb is below:

“Highlights: The Kaibab National Forest reduced the size of the temporary forest closure on the North Kaibab Ranger Districts on August 19, 2025. Western portions of the district are now open to public access and the closure boundary is comprised of a series of forest roads between the Jacob Lake area and Timp Point. The boundary line was designed to maximize public access while providing for the safety of forest visitors and wildfire personnel. Visitors are urged to review the written details and maps in the closure order before visiting at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/kaibab/alerts/north-kaibab-rd-white-sage-dragon-bravo-fires-temporary-closure-public-health-and. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management’s Strip District closure has been lifted.

Operations: Retardant drops continued along the southeastern perimeter of the fire to address any hotspots identified by unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights, in areas difficult to access safely by crews on the ground. As fire suppression activity progresses, Resource Advisors work closely with firefighters to ensure ecological, cultural and historical values are protected while restoring the landscape. Basic firefighting infrastructure such as portable toilets, handwashing stations, and equipment are being removed from areas such as Big Springs, where they are no longer needed. Chippers and log trucks are used to help crews with hazard tree removal along the Highway 67 corridor.

Weather and Smoke: Warm, dry weather will continue through the day with an increased chance of dry lightning. Maximum relative humidities will increase going into Thursday and Friday, as will the likelihood of precipitation. In addition to rain, storms could bring a greater possibility for gusty winds and lightning. With continued minimal fire behavior, there will be limited visible smoke and minimal smoke impacts to the surrounding communities. Air quality and smoke conditions are available at outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net.”