White Sage Fire Swells to 59K Acres; 83% Contained in Northern Arizona

WHITE SAGE, AZ (AZFamily) - The White Sage Fire has scorched almost 59,000 acres in the remote part of Coconino County, one of two fires burning along or close to the northern edge of the Grand Canyon.

By July 31, the blaze had expanded to cover 58,985 acres, with 83% of the area under control. The Arizona Department of Transportation reported that U.S. Highway 89A is now open in both directions. This road had remained shut since the fire began on July 9.

Emergency responders are advancing along the northern and eastern boundaries of the blaze. Teams are also focusing on addressing any remaining hotspots along the eastern perimeter.

Following the outbreak several weeks back, teams have built containment lines, stabilized critical areas, and carried out cleanup operations along the fire's route. Workers are putting out or eliminating smoldering materials to stop the fire from spreading further.

Overall, we received some moisture," stated Jesse Trembly, the deputy operations section chief from the Bureau of Land Management, during an operation report on July 18. "It significantly reduced the intensity and lowered the fire activity. So we're feeling quite positive.

On July 13, Extremely Large Aerial Tankers (VLATs) and One-Engine Aerial Tankers (SEATs) released 179,597 gallons of firefighting suppressant across the northern and southern edges to reduce the rate of expansion. Authorities noted that the containment line remained stable on the western part of the blaze close to where it started.

Forest service personnel state that intense fire activity caused the blaze to move south along Highway 89A close to House Rock Valley on that particular day, becoming the most dynamic part of the event.

Lightning sparked the White Sage Fire on the night of July 9, roughly 15 miles south-east of Fredonia.

A nearby forest fire damages the Grand Canyon hotel

The Dragon Bravo Fire approximately 70 structures were damaged at the north side of the Grand Canyon including an old-fashioned cabin, a facility for treating water, a welcome center, and a fueling station.

Officials at Grand Canyon stated that the wildfire led to the closure of visitor access to the North Rim for the remainder of the season.

Park authorities had earlier relocated around 500 visitors on July 11, then eventually required staff and local inhabitants to evacuate as well.

Earlier that day, crews mentioned that a water purification station was engulfed in flames, leading to the emission of chlorine gas from the site, raising health worries for individuals still located within the inner canyon.

Every river expedition was directed to avoid Phantom Ranch, according to the National Park Service. The North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, and the South Kaibab Trail will stay closed indefinitely.

In the meantime, residents in Marble Canyon, Lees Ferry, and a minor portion of the Navajo Nation were informed that they might also detect the scent of chlorine.

Evacuee instructions and highway shutdowns

The Coconino County Sheriff's Department stated that the following locations are still subject to mandatory evacuations:

North boundary: Utah Border
Eastern border: House Rock Valley Road/Buffalo Ranch Road
Western border: Kaibab National Forest Limit
Southern border: Grand Canyon National Park

SR 67 heading south is still blocked below Jacob Lake. US 89A has reopened for traffic in both directions.

The region near Jacob Lake and Lonesome was also cleared, although locals have now been permitted to go back. On July 24, the area was moved to "READY" status.

"A road closure isn't something taken on a whim. We understand the effects of shutting down a highway, yet ensuring the safety of our firefighters and the general public remains our top concern," stated the BLM.

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