Why Government Lands Burn

Early in the morning of July 13, 2025, the Dragon Bravo Fire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim consumed the historic 1930s Grand Canyon Lodge, the visitors’ center, and dozens of other structures in the national park. Ignited by lightning on July 4, the Park Service had initially chosen to manage the fire as an opportunity to burn through a buildup of fuel sources on the forest floor, but it escaped control when wind picked up a few days later. No one was hurt, but many are asking how this could happen.

Is this part of a broader problem? Climate activists have contended that wildfires are increasing because of a warming planet, though data on wildfires indicate otherwise. Globally, fire burn area has decreased over the last century, and carbon emissions from fire have also fallen over the last 20 years. ---More...