Gov. Katie Hobbs said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum committed to investigate the federal government’s handling of the Dragon Bravo Fire that’s still burning around the Grand Canyon.
The fire, started by a lightning strike on July 4, jumped containment lines and destroyed dozens of structures along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.
Hobbs and other Arizona officials called for an investigation into the tactics employed by fire officials, who initially treated the strike as a controlled burn — in which a fire is allowed to burn in a controlled area in order to get rid of debris and other fuel that could feed larger fires in the future — before inclement weather and other factors whipped the fire out of control.
After a meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C., the governor said Burgum has agreed to “an independent review of the decisions made during the Dragon Bravo Fire containment process.”
The Dragon Bravo Fire at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is now the seventh largest fire in Arizona history, burning more than 130,000 acres.
“This accountability is essential as we work to ensure this never happens again,” Hobbs said on social media.
Hobbs said she and Burgum also agreed to cooperate to rebuild areas destroyed by the Dragon Bravo fire.
Christian Slater, a spokesman for the governor, said Burgum designated a dedicated liaison to work with the Governor’s Office to coordinate those efforts.
“Gov. Hobbs looks forward to working with the Department of Interior to support the communities impacted and rebuild a strong and thriving economy in northern Arizona,” Slater said.
The Department of the Interior declined to comment on how much money it is willing to spend to rebuild the area and whether it plans to rebuild the Grand Canyon Lodge.
“The Department of the Interior does not provide comment on private meetings involving the Secretary,” spokeswoman Charlotte Taylor said. “However, the Department remains committed to ensuring the area is restored.”
Slater said Hobbs and Burgum did discuss rebuilding the Lodge “but no hard commitments or other details to share as of right now.”
“The main focus remains on fighting the fire,” Slater said.
The Dragon Bravo Fire has burned over 23,000 acres and was 26% contained as of Thursday.
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The Dragon Bravo Fire burning along Highway 67 near the Grand Canyon on Aug. 1, 2025.
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Night operations on the Dragon Bravo Fire at the Grand Canyon's North Rim on Aug. 3, 2025.
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The Dragon Bravo Fire at the Grand Canyon seen at night with the Milky Way on July 28, 2025.
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The Dragon Bravo Fire on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
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A plume of smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
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Smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire in the Kaibab National Forest on July 28, 2025.
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The Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon on July 23, 2025.
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A firefighter mops up a fallen tree on the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge on July 18, 2025. It was destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire earlier in the month.
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Crews fight the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Monday, July 21, 2025.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge on July 18, 2025. It was destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire earlier in the month.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge on July 18, 2025. It was destroyed by the Dragon Bravo Fire earlier in the month.
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A firefighter works against the White Sage Wildfire in northern Arizona on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
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A rainbow over the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Friday, July 18, 2025.
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A firefighter stands near smoldering debris and active flames amid the charred remains of a burned structure near the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
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Crews battle the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on July 13, 2025.
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A smoke plume rises over the Grand Canyon on July 11, 2025.
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College students who worked at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim perform a "sing-away" for departing guests.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2017.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge in 2019.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge was built in 1936-37, according to the National Park Service.
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The Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, pictured here in May 2008.
Michael Quinn/U.S. National Park Service
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Fire crews battle the White Sage Fire about 15 miles southwest of Fredonia, Arizona.
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Fire crews battle the White Sage Fire about 15 miles southwest of Fredonia, Arizona.
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Fire crews battle the White Sage Fire about 15 miles southwest of Fredonia, Arizona.
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Crews battled the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Friday, July 11, 2025.
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The White Sage Fire burning near the Grand Canyon on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
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Crews fight the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
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Crews work to contain the White Sage Fire in northern Arizona on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
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Crews focused on suppression repair spread seeds to help minimize erosion — which can hinder regrowth and water absorption — in the area burned by the White Sage Fire.
Sean Mcnearney/White Sage Fire
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The Rio Grande Hand Crew fighting the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon on July 31, 2025.
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