Latest news with #ArizonaDepartmentOfTransportation
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Fox News
Mandatory evacuation orders in effect as 1,000-acre wildfire threatens Grand Canyon's North Rim
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is temporarily closed as mandatory evacuation orders remain in effect due to a wildfire near the park. The White Sage Fire, near Jacob Lake, prompted the National Park Service to evacuate all North Rim visitors "immediately" on Thursday night. As of Thursday night, the fire had burned about 1,000 acres and remains active with no containment, according to a report from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Officials on Friday advised hikers not to enter the Grand Canyon, noting there was extreme heat and wildfire smoke inside the canyon. The BLM said smoke was reported Wednesday night after a thunderstorm rolled through the White Sage area. Two single-engine air tankers based in Mesquite delivered fire retardant to assist with initial suppression efforts before dark, according to the report. Crews worked through the night, making progress on the south, east and northeast flanks. Air attack arrived on scene Thursday and aircraft continued to support ground crews, officials said. A Complex Incident Management Team was ordered. Highway 89A to Fredonia is closed in both directions at mile marker 595 due to the fire, with no estimated reopening time, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Highway 89A east to Page remains open, according to the park service.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Wildfires in Arizona prompt evacuations near Grand Canyon
A rapidly moving wildfire northwest of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona has forced the closure of the park's North Rim and triggered evacuation orders for area White Sage Fire, sparked by lightning on 9 July, has scorched roughly 1,000 acres near Jacob Lake. As of Thursday, the blaze remains out of control and actively expanding - described as "0% contained" by combination of high temperatures, gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation has created dangerous conditions, fuelling the fire's swift advance, park officials responders have been battling the flames from the ground and air using fire retardants since Wednesday. "Due to the fire's progression toward Jacob Lake, which is now under evacuation orders, all visitors on the North Rim are required to evacuate immediately," Grand Canyon park staff said in an alert issued on of the nearby highway, State Route 89A, has been closed until further notice, with the Arizona Department of Transportation warning drivers to expect extended wildfire threat extends beyond Arizona. On Thursday, all staff and visitors were evacuated from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado - about 260 miles (418km) southwest of Denver - after lightning ignited fires on opposite ends of the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit said on Thursday it was "working diligently with partners to respond to approximately 10 wildfires caused by lightning across the dispatch area".
