Part of Grand Canyon evacuated as wildfire spreads
by AFP
Some visitors have been evacuated from the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Daniel SLIM / AFP
Spreading wildfires forced the evacuation on Friday of part of the famed Grand Canyon, with the US National Park Service appealing for visitors to stay calm.
The canyon's North Rim, which is less popular with tourists than the South Rim, was being cleared due to a blaze called the White Sage Fire.
"Evacuees should travel calmly at a normal rate of speed and stay on paved roads only. North Rim day use is closed until further notice," the Park Service said in an order.
Jon Paxton, press officer for the Coconino County sheriff's office, told AFP that officials had evacuated only about 40 people and that many visitors had already left.
"There is a hotel and some businesses in the 'go' area but they had self-evacuated prior to our arrival. Most of the folks we evacuated were campers," he said.
The fire is burning outside the Grand Canyon National Park but approaching Jacob Lake, Arizona, a town known as the gateway to the North Rim.
About 1,000 acres (400 hectares) have been scorched and the blaze is not under control, according to authorities, who released images of large columns of smoke rising above the scrubby desert.
One of the greatest wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eating away at layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 18 miles (30 km) wide and more than a mile (1.6 km) deep.
The Parks Service advised against any hiking into the canyon, due to extreme heat and wildfire smoke.
A 67-year-old man died on Tuesday while attempting to reach the river in extreme heat conditions.
Last year just under five million people visited the site.
Another popular site, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, was also closed Friday because of a wildfire.
dw/bgs/des
Reference Provided by AFP
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
AFP
AFP
Faced with US heat waves, the Navajo push for power -- and A/C
2025-07-17 00:00:00
AFP
'Moscow sizzles in record-breaking heatwave'
2025-07-16 00:00:00
AFP
'Lithuania bids to save Baltic seals as ice sheets recede'
2025-07-15 00:00:00
AFP
Bull sharks linger in warming Sydney waters
2025-07-14 00:00:00
BEST STORIES
AFP
'S.Leone islanders despair as rising ocean threatens survival'
2025-07-11 00:00:00
The Conversation
Does eating cheese before bed really give you nightmares? Here’s what the science says
Some visitors have been evacuated from the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Daniel SLIM / AFP 
