Wildfires force evacuations near Grand Canyon
A growing forest fire fiery by lightning encourages evacuations near the Grand Canyon after burning more than 1,000 acres in Arizona.
The fire of Sage White caused evacuations in certain parts of the Grand Canyon National Park and the entire Gunnison National Park near Lake Jacob, announced the service of the National Park on Thursday.
Lightning shots Thursday launched forest fires on the north edge and the southern edge of the black canyon of the Gunnison National Park, officials said. Gunnison National Park, which is around 250 miles southwest of Denver, Colorado, has been evacuated and remains closed.
The rapidly moving forest fires prompted officials to also evacuate the northern edge of the Grand Canyon National Park, the National Park Service said on Thursday in a separate statement. However, the fire has not yet moved into the Grand Canyon.
The fire, which is around 1,000 large acres and 0% contained in local Friday morning, according to the government.
Officials said “high temperatures, very low humidity, gusts and very dry vegetation in the region” have created a risk for forest fires.
Friday, the National Park Service said in an article on X that “hiking in the Grand Canyon was not advised today, with extreme heat and forest smoke inside the canyon”.
