Almost 5 million people last year visited the Grand Canyon, one of the natural world's greatest wondersImage: Joelle Baird/Grand Canyon National Park/AP Photo/picture alliance
People have been ordered to leave areas near the world famous Grand Canyon in Arizona due to rapidly spreading wildfires which were sparked by lightning.
Almost 5 million people last year visited the Grand Canyon, one of the natural world’s greatest wondersImage: Joelle Baird/Grand Canyon National Park/AP Photo/picture alliance
Evacuations have been ordered in parts of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona due to wildfires, park officials said Friday.
One of the fires, the Dragon Bravo Fire, has been burning since July 4 after being sparked by lightning.
As of Friday evening, the fire had burned 150 acres (61 hectares) and was 0% contained, according to a US government incident report.
“Due to the advancing Dragon Bravo Fire within Grand Canyon National Park, all North Rim residents are now in “GO” status and should evacuate immediately,” the Grand Canyon National Park said on Facebook.
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“Due to the advancing Dragon Bravo Fire within Grand Canyon National Park, all North Rim residents are now in ‘GO’ status and should evacuate immediately,” the park said on Facebook.
About 500 visitors to the North Rim, which is less popular than the South Rim, were evacuated Thursday night.
A larger blaze north of the park, called the White Sage Fire, was burning near Jacob Lake, where evacuation orders and road closures were also in effect.
That fire, also started by lightning, had burned 10,973 acres as of Friday and was likewise 0% contained, according to the Arizona Bureau of Land Management.
“Strong, gusty winds, low relative humidity and critically dry vegetation in rugged terrain continue to challenge firefighting resources,” the bureau said.
Fires have also broken out in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in ColoradoImage: National Parks Service/dpa/picture alliance
In neighboring Colorado, several lightning-sparked fires forced the evacuation of all visitors and staff from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Hot, dry weather conditions in the western US in recent weeks have raised the risk of wildfires.
