Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon Fires – 7/30/2025

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Summary

Zeke Lunder discussed the Dragon Bravo and Monroe Canyon fires. Dragon Bravo, burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, has destroyed the visitor center and is spreading rapidly, with minimal firefighting success. The fire is expected to reach the Kaibab Lodge, with efforts to slow its progression using drones and strategic firing operations. Monroe Canyon fire, in Utah, is active with intense heat and continuous fuels, posing a significant threat. Both fires are influenced by dry conditions and high winds, with minimal humidity recovery at night. The discussion also touched on the challenges of fire management and the impact of high severity fires on ecosystems.

Today’s Lookout Livestream

Cover photo: Lauren Cisneros

Dragon Bravo Fire Overview

  • Zeke discusses the Dragon Bravo fire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, highlighting its dramatic terrain.
  • The fire started near the North Rim visitor center, burned it down, and has been challenging the Park Service and Forest Service.
  • The fire has been spreading steadily, with new growth shown on the map, and firefighting efforts have had limited success.

Fire Spread and Tactical Operations

  • Zeke explains the fire’s spread, including areas where the fire has contained itself and areas where backing fires are beneficial.
  • The fire is spreading in all directions, with few spots where firefighting has changed the outcome.
  • The current focus is on protecting the Kaibab Lodge, with firefighting efforts trying to slow the fire’s progression, but not stop it.
  • Tactical operations include firing operations to slow the fire’s spread, with drones used to ignite fires strategically.

Weather Conditions and Fire Behavior

  • Zeke discusses the weather conditions affecting the fire, including high pressure to the east and low pressure off the coast of British Columbia.
  • The large-scale weather patterns are blocking the monsoon, leading to continued dry air flow from Baja.
  • The fire’s behavior is influenced by the weather, with high temperatures and low humidity leading to prolonged fire activity.
  • The forecast shows minimal recovery at night, with the fire remaining active through the night.

Kaibab Lodge and Fire Strategy

  • Zeke talks about the Kaibab Lodge’s preparation, including sprinklers and other measures to protect it.
  • The fire’s strategy involves using drones to ignite fires in a controlled manner to slow the fire’s progression.
  • The conditions are dry and windy, making it challenging to control the fire.

Monroe Canyon Fire Overview

  • Zeke transitions to discussing the Monroe Canyon Fire burning in Utah.
  • The fire has made significant runs in the last week, with intense heat and continuous fuels driving its spread.
  • The fire started in the Monroe Peak area and is now spreading through continuous vegetation.
  • The fire’s behavior is influenced by the topography and vegetation, with the fire aligning in canyons to spread quickly.

Fire Progression and Containment Efforts

  • Zeke explains the fire’s progression, including its explosive growth during periods when it has come into alignment in canyons and its spread through continuous fuels.
  • The fire’s active areas include the northeast flank and the area SW from Monroe Peak.
  • Containment efforts include dozer lines and firing operations to slow the fire’s spread.
  • The fire’s behavior is influenced by the weather and topography, with the fire spreading readily through areas with continuous heavy conifer forest fuels.

Fuels Treatment and Fire Severity

  • Zeke discusses the effectiveness of fuels treatment under extreme conditions.
  • The fire’s severity is influenced by the landscape’s fire regime, with some areas burning with high severity infrequently.
  • Fuels treatment can have mixed results, with some arguing it can makes fire behavior more severe by increasing the dryness of fuels, and their exposure to winds.
  • The fire’s behavior is influenced by the landscape’s natural fire regime, and high elevation areas often have high severity fire regimes.

Public Perception and Fire Management

  • Zeke discusses the public’s negative perception of high severity fires.
  • High severity fires are a natural part of some ecosystems and aren’t always a bad thing for that place’s ecology.

Fire Operations and Planning

  • Zeke discusses the challenges of fire operations and planning, including the use of outdated maps.
  • He notes that UAVs are more-commonly used now to mitigate the ecological/wildlife impacts of large firing operations