Arizona wildfires torch key bridge and Grand Canyon icon. What we know

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Two longstanding Arizona structures were destroyed by fire in the past six weeks as 2025 wildfires took their fiery toll.
The Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of the canyon burned to the ground on July 12 when the Dragon Bravo fire consumed it as the blaze tore across the rim's forested lands. The fire, which started July 4, also claimed surrounding visitor cabins.
As of Aug. 11, the fire was still burning and had encompassed 143,808 acres, according to InciWeb, a fire-tracking website that compiles information from various U.S. government agencies.
The fire also burned cabins surrounding the lodge, the visitor center and — notably — a bronze statue honoring Brighty, a wild burro who roamed the canyon more than a century ago.
On Aug. 1, a brush fire ignited the wooden underpinnings of the OxBow Bridge in southwestern Arizona. The flames quickly climbed up the wooden structure and sent it collapsing into the Colorado River below.
The bridge is along a local road and connects the Arizona town of Cibola with California.
Grand Canyon Lodge
The site where the lodge burned in July was no stranger to fire. The original lodge was built in 1928 but was "nearly destroyed" in a 1932 fire, according to the National Park Service.
The rebuilt lodge opened in 1936, following much of the original plan from architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood and incorporating the original Kaibab limestone that came from canyon walls near Bright Angel Point.
The resurrected lodge was designed to withstand the region's heavy snows. The next iteration of the lodge will have to take into consideration fire resilience, because of the increasingly hot and dry climate that contributed to the Dragon Bravo fire.
The park service said planning for a new lodge and other visitor amenities was underway, but "this process will take time."
Brighty the Burro
The bronze statue of Brighty, a real-life burro who lived in the Grand Canyon more than a century ago, was "heavily damaged" in the fire, according to park officials.
But like the lodge in which he stood, the Brighty statute will not be forgotten. Park officials said they are committed to honoring the burro's legacy as they move forward. They have not been specific if that would involve repairs to the statue or some other form of tribute.
Oxbow Bridge
This bridge, spanning the Colorado River from the tiny Arizona town of Cibola, was built in 1960, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. It was 17 feet long and consisted of 40 spans.
La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, whose district includes the bridge, said the intent was to rebuild. Crucial details on who would do so and how to pay for it have yet to be worked out, she said.
The closest river crossing is via the Farmer's Bridge, which is about 3.5 miles north of the Oxbow on River Road, according to county reports.
Reach the reporter at [e-mail] or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on social media@maryjpitzl.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Grand Canyon Lodge, Oxbow Bridge lost to fire but may rise again