Historic lodge destroyed in Grand Canyon blaze

A raging wildfire near the Grand Canyon in the US has destroyed dozens of buildings - including a historic lodge that was the only accommodation available within the surrounding national park's North Rim.

The fire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge is one of two that has swept across tens of thousands of acres in the area.

The blazes have also forced the closure of the North Rim for the remainder of the 2025 tourist season.

Authorities in the state of Arizona are still working to contain the fires, which have been dubbed the Dragon Bravo Fire and White Sage Fire.

Located approximately 8,000ft (2,438m), the Grand Canyon Lodge also included dining facilities, a gift shop and post office. It had been operating since the 1930s.

"As stewards of some of our country's most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge," Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said in a statement.

"We are grateful that all of our employees and guests have been safely evacuated," the statement added.

No injuries are reported to have been caused by the blaze, which was fuelled by sustained winds that reached up to 40mph (64km/h)