Smoke, drought, and wildfire have marked the month of July so far across most of the West. Staff at the San Juan National Forest announced on Monday that Stage I fire restrictions, the most severe, are now in place on the entire forest. They had been in place on only lower-elevation lands.
“Due to the extended drying trend, higher elevations are becoming vulnerable to wildfire and restrictions will now encompass the entire Forest,” San Juan National Forest staff said in an email. “Fire restrictions are designed to protect public safety and our area natural resources. Southwest Colorado is in extended drought with continued hot, dry weather creating a critical fire environment.”
Lightning-sparked wildfires have closed both Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
At press time, the South Rim fire at Black Canyon was more than 4,000 in acres in size with zero percent containment. Monsoon storms are expected soon there, but it’s worried that the winds may fan the flames before enough rain falls to squelch the flames.
In the vicinity, the Deer Creek fire, which started in Utah about 18 miles south of Moab near La Sal and spread east into Colorado, was at about 13,000 acres and seven percent containment.
The Turner Gulch fire northeast of Gateway in Mesa County made a massive run Monday, exploding from 1,400 acres to 7,800. All the blazes prompted Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to issue a disaster declaration on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Dragon Bravo fire at Grand Canyon’s North Rim was at a reported 8,500 acres with zero percent containment. Smoke settling thickly within the canyon and limitations on emergency responses in the canyon led park officials to close the following areas:
· North Kaibab Trail and South Kaibab Trail
· Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens. River exchanges are allowed to pass through this area at their discretion.
· Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground. River runners are not to stop at Boat Beach, but may continue to Pipe Creek beach for exchanges.
· River Trail between Pipe Creek and the South Kaibab
· Tonto East between Havasupai Gardens and Tip Off
· All backcountry routes and canyoneering routes stemming from the North or South Kaibab, or the Bright Angel Trail.
The Dragon Bravo fire destroyed the historic century-old Grand Canyon lodge at the North Rim as well as a wastewater treatment plant and some staff lodges.
Controversy has arisen over the fact that the fire, which began July 4, was initially allowed to burn as a prescribed fire with the goal of reducing hazardous fuels.
The park’s North Rim will remain closed for the remainder of the 2025 season.
