A wildfire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon erupted, destroying over 70 structures, including a visitors center. Initially ignited by lightning, the fire was allowed to burn unchecked for days, deemed manageable by the Park Service. As it rapidly expanded, warnings to evacuate were issued. Governor Katie Hobbs has demanded a federal investigation into the Park Service's management practices during the event, questioning decisions made during the peak summer heat. The fire strategy shifted from containment to aggressive control due to worsening conditions.
"There are no threats to infrastructure or public safety at this time," the park said on Facebook.
The federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer," the governor said in a social media post Sunday.
Authorities first used a 'confine and contain' strategy but shifted to aggressive suppression as the fire rapidly grew because of hot temperatures, low humidity and strong wind gusts, fire officials said.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called for a federal investigation into the park service's handling of the fire.
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