Firefighter dies while battling blaze at the Grand Canyon: Officials
A firefighter has died after suffering a "cardiac emergency" while battling a blaze in northern Arizona, according to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team.
Officials announced a "line of duty death" occurred on Monday at the Dragon Bravo Fire in northern Arizona, which has burned over 145,000 acres near the Grand Canyon.
The firefighter was "actively involved in suppression repair when he suffered a cardiac emergency near the North Rim Entrance Station," officials said on Monday.
Immediate medical assistance was rendered to the firefighter, but "resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful," officials said.
The name of the firefighter was not immediately released.
In a statement, the Southwest Area Incident Management Team said their "hearts go out to" the firefighter's family and friends.
"The wildland fire community is inherently interagency, and a line of duty death impacts us all. We deeply appreciate this firefighter's dedication to his profession and to the communities threatened by wildland fire," officials said.
Officials said support is being provided "to fellow professional wildland firefighters and friends on the Dragon Bravo Fire" and an investigation conducted by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner is now underway.
More information on the investigation will be provided "as it becomes available," officials said.
The Dragon Bravo Fire broke out on July 4 as a result of a lightning strike, with officials quickly responding and establishing containment lines. But on July 11, strong northwest winds -- which is "uncommon for the area" -- pushed the flames "beyond containment features, resulting in significant growth," according to Inciweb, an interagency risk incident information platform.
Warm temperatures, low relative humidity and ongoing strong wind gusts have continued to drive the active flames, but monsoonal moisture has "significantly decreased" fire activity throughout the area, according to Inciweb.
As of Tuesday, the fire is 80% contained, according to Inciweb. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed for the remainder of the 2025 season due to the flames, according to the National Park Service's website.
