Arizona governor renews call for Dragon Bravo Fire probe after after new details come out

PHOENIX – In light of new reporting on how the Dragon Bravo Fire was initially managed by federal authorities, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is renewing her call for an investigation into how the Grand Canyon wildfire grew out of control.

“The Dragon Bravo Fire has become one of the largest fires in state history, destroying landmarks and disrupting local businesses,” Hobbs said in a press release Thursday. “To prevent this from happening again, we must understand what warnings were ignored and why the worst-case scenario became reality.”

What does new report say about management of Dragon Bravo Fire?

The Dragon Bravo Fire was ignited July 4 by lightning on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

According to an Arizona Republic story published online Thursday, National Park Service officials stuck with what they called a “confine and contain” management plan despite signs that potentially dangerous weather conditions were developing.

Wind gusts picked up the night of July 12, pushing the flames through dry vegetation and across containment lines. By the next day, the wildfire had destroyed more than 70 structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

Hobbs first called for an investigation at the time and discussed her concerns during a July 23 meeting with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in Washington, D.C. The governor said she secured a commitment for an investigation from Burgum, but she felt the need to bring the subject into the spotlight again Thursday.

“Arizonans deserve answers, and that starts with conducting an independent and thorough investigation,” she said.

How large did the Dragon Bravo Fire become?

The Dragon Bravo Fire wound up burning through 145,504 acres, making it the seventh largest wildfire ever recorded in Arizona. While there hasn’t been any new growth recently, crews are still working to achieve full suppression. Containment was listed at 63% in Friday’s incident report.

Meanwhile, National Park Service officials announced Friday that an Interior Department Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team began work to assess the wildfire’s impact and identify threats to life and property in its wake of destruction.

“The BAER assessment is the first step toward recovery on the North Rim of Grand Canyon,” Ed Keable, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent, said in a press release. “By evaluating risks and identifying treatments now, we are laying the foundation for long-term landscape resilience. This careful, science-based work is essential to ensuring that areas can reopen safely.”

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