Firefighter dies responding to massive wildfire near Grand Canyon North Rim

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - A firefighter died Monday afternoon while battling the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon North Rim in northern Arizona.

Officials said the firefighter was doing “suppression repair” when he had a heart attack near the North Rim entrance station.

A paramedic tried to revive him but was unsuccessful.

“Our hearts go out to his family and friends. The wildland fire community is inherently interagency, and a line-of-duty death impacts us all,” the Southwest Area Incident Management Team said in an emailed statement. “We deeply appreciate this firefighter’s dedication to his profession and to the communities threatened by wildland fire.”

The firefighter’s name hasn’t been released.

An investigation is being conducted by the National Park Service in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner, according to KVVU.

The Dragon Bravo fire started nearly two months ago in the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. Officials said lightning sparked the fire on July 4, but it grew out of control about a week later.

The fire has since destroyed more than 100 buildings, including the historic Grand Canyon lodge, and burned through 145,504 acres. According to KVVU, it is the tenth-largest wildfire in Arizona’s history.

The Grand Canyon North Rim has been closed to visitors since July and will remain closed for the remainder of the 2025 season because of the fire.

Along with the lodge, several guest cabins and the North Rim Visitor Center have been severely damaged by the fire. The National Park Service said the North Rim’s infrastructure was damaged as well, including the park’s water pipeline and electrical utilities.

The Park Service said they are currently focusing on “emergency stabilization” and protecting the North Rim’s remaining infrastructure, but plans are underway to rebuild the park’s visitor facilities.

The Grand Canyon South Rim remains open, according to the Park Service.

About 569 people are working to contain the Dragon Bravo fire, which is at 80% containment.