Arizona fires prompt evacuations near Grand Canyon

A forest fire quickly in the northwest of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona forced the closure of the north edge of the park and sparked evacuation orders for residents of the region.

White sage fire, triggered by lightning on July 9, burned about 10,900 acres near Lake Jacob. Thursday, the fire remains out of control and actively expanding – described as “0% content” by civil servants.

The combination of high temperatures, gusts and dry vegetation has created dangerous conditions, fueling the rapid advance of the fire, said park officials.

On Friday, officials issued an extreme heat warning, with temperature summits up to 115F (46C), and advised to hike in the Grand Canyon.

The staff of the Grand Canyon said they had managed to evacuate “around 500 guests” from the north edge of the park due to the fire, from Friday afternoon, local time.

Park officials said that a 67 -year -old hiker died in the Grand Canyon on Tuesday. The hiker, from Texas, was found unanswered on the path of southern Kaibab below Cedar Ridge, and the efforts to resuscitate him failed, the National Park Service said in a press release.

Emergency speakers have fought against the flames of the soil and in the air since Wednesday.

“Due to the progression of the fire to Jacob Lake, who is now under evacuation orders, all visitors to the North rim must evacuate immediately,” an alert published on Thursday said on Thursday.

Part of the neighboring highway, State Route 89a, was closed until further notice, the warning drivers of the Arizona Ministry of Transport are expecting prolonged delays.

The threat of forest fires goes beyond Arizona.

On Thursday, all the staff and visitors were evacuated from the Black Canyon from Gunnison National Park in western Colorado – about 260 miles (418 km) south -west of Denver – after lightning ignited fires at the park’s opposite ends.

The fire management unit of the Upper Colorado river said on Thursday that it “worked diligently with partners to respond to around 10 forest fires caused by lightning in the shipping area”.