See how fire along Grand Canyon's North Rim grew
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The Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona has destroyed dozens of structures and a water treatment facility on the Grand Canyon's North Rim.
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.
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.
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.
Initial assessments estimate that 50 to 80 buildings were lost as the 5,000-acre Dragon Bravo Fire continues to rage through Grand Canyon National Park
The historic Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim was destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire, which officials say has consumed between 50 to 80 structures.
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 Grand Canyon National Park is also under an extreme heat warning through the weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 115 degrees in low elevations.