PHOENIX — Gov. Katie Hobbs is once again calling for a full, independent review of how officials handled the Dragon Bravo Fire, citing new reporting that suggests park managers downplayed safety threats and failed to follow the Grand Canyon’s fire management plan.
Hobbs, who first demanded an investigation on July 13, previously met with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in Washington, D.C., where she secured a federal commitment to review the fire response. Now, with additional details surfacing, she says the need for answers has only grown stronger.
“The Dragon Bravo Fire has become one of the largest in state history, destroying landmarks and disrupting local businesses,” Hobbs said in Thursday’s statement. “Arizonans deserve answers — and that starts with an independent and thorough investigation.”
Reports raise new concerns
According to documents reviewed in recent reporting, warnings about extreme fire danger were clear just days after the fire began on July 4. A mix of high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds on July 6 created conditions the park’s fire plan specifically said could trigger “greatly increased fire behavior.” Those risks only worsened by July 9 and 10.
The plan also identified the North Rim’s terrain as particularly vulnerable to fast-moving fire. Despite those warnings, officials allegedly downplayed risks to public safety and delayed stronger containment efforts.
Largest wildfires in state history
The Dragon Bravo Fire has already burned more than 145,000 acres, placing it among the largest wildfires ever recorded in Arizona. The blaze destroyed over 70 structures on the North Rim, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and forced the closure of the rim for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Hobbs stressed that without accountability and a clear understanding of what went wrong, Arizona risks repeating the same mistakes in future fire seasons.
