Wildfires have forced evacuations for visitors and staff at two national parks in the US West as the summer monsoon season brings increased lightning to the arid region.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, about 420km southwest of Denver, closed until further notice after lighting strikes sparked blazes on both rims, park officials said. The Grand Canyon's North Rim in Arizona also closed because of a wildfire on adjacent Bureau of Land Management land near Jacob Lake.
The wildfire on Black Canyon of the Gunnison's South Rim ignited on Thursday and has burned 6.5sq km, with no containment of the perimeter. The smaller blaze on the North Rim was out as of Friday, according to an incident map.
The conditions there have been ripe for wildfires with hot temperatures, low humidity, gusty winds and dry vegetation, the park said, adding that weather remained a concern Friday.
Fire danger has ramped up in the West as drought conditions have worsened across several states. While monsoon season can drop much-needed moisture on the area from June through September, it can also bring dust storms and thunderstorms like those that ignited the wildfires in the Colorado and Arizona parks.
Firefighters saved Black Canyon's visitor centre along the South Rim by removing dry vegetation and coating the building in a layer of protective material, fire officials said. Small aircrafts from Colorado's Division of Fire Prevention and Control dropped retardant from the sky Friday while ground crews tried to contain the burn. Some park equipment and sheds were damaged, the park said.
In Arizona, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it helped evacuate people from an area north of Jacob Lake and campers in the Kaibab National Forest nearby. The fire began on Wednesday evening after a thunderstorm moved through the area, fire officials said.
"Gusty and erratic winds" spread the flames on Thursday afternoon and inhibited firefighters from containing the blaze, Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Rachel Carnahan said.
By Friday afternoon it had burned about 44sq km with zero containment, and dark clouds of smoke settled over the Grand Canyon.
About 500 visitors who planned to stay in the park overnight were evacuated Thursday night. Employees and residents on the North Rim were told to shelter in place.
Some guests had just checked in when the inn got a call from the sheriff's office saying everyone should leave immediately. The staff began calling and emailing guests who were out exploring.
Even as smoke rose around them, the evacuation felt precautionary because of the wind direction, Rich said. In 2020, a wildfire came within six metres of some cabins.