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Grand Canyon

Arizona Wildfires Impact Businesses, Seek Federal Loans

by David Harrison – Chief Editor July 30, 2025

written by David Harrison – Chief Editor

FREDONIA, Arizona (KUTV) – Wildfires continue to burn across northern Arizona, prompting Coconino County officials to apply for a federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration through the Small Business Administration.

If approved by the governor, businesses in Coconino and surrounding areas may apply for low-interest federal loans. This comes as business owners in gateway communities like Kanab and Fredonia report sharp declines in revenue, fearing further impact in the fall, typically the region’s busy season.

Sherre Finicum, a fifth-generation rancher, shared her family’s ongoing recovery from the Mangum Fire five years ago, which necessitated selling half their cattle. “Having to basically give away really good, healthy mother cows and calves for rock bottom prices was a real financial setback,” she said. “Not to mention the setback in our operations as far as genetics,breeding,and producing efficient cows.”

This year, Finicum relocated her cattle to pastures not directly in the fire’s path. She anticipates the flames’ effects will linger long after they are extinguished. “The level of smoke is going to impact the calves’ gain,” Finicum stated, referencing the health impacts on cattle. “They’re also not in the best pasture, so it messes with my rotation,” she added. “It will definitely have an impact. I may not see it promptly this year, but it may bump down a few years.”

Her family also operates a small roadside rock-art business on the Arizona-Utah border. they noted their business drop-off as a snapshot of broader experiences. “My sales at my little lemonade stand have dropped about 75%,” Finicum reported during a community meeting hosted by the county.

At the meeting, other business owners voiced concerns about their businesses’ long-term health, acknowledging that the true impact might take years to manifest. Local officials indicated that if the submission is approved, an SBA team will visit the region to assist business owners in determining the viability of applying for a loan.This initiative could help stimulate economic recovery.

Though, multiple residents expressed a desire for policy reform beyond economic support. “I think there are policies in place that are actually detrimental,” Finicum stated. “I would hope the government would be aware of how their policies allow fires to grow bigger instead of stopping them earlier and now causing so much damage to the land, wildlife, and businesses.” Fredonia Mayor Don Johnson echoed this criticism.”This fire didn’t start last week or the week before,” Johnson said. “This fire started 20 years ago because of forest management. There’s probably more timber burnt in the last few days than has been sold of

Disclaimer: This content touches upon financial and economic matters related to disaster relief. It is not intended as financial advice. Consult with a qualified financial advisor for personalized guidance.

What are your thoughts on the impact of wildfires on local businesses? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

July 30, 2025 0 comments

News

White Sage Fire Arizona: Wildfire Updates, Evacuations & Containment Efforts

by David Harrison – Chief Editor July 16, 2025

written by David Harrison – Chief Editor

White sage Fire Rages in Northern Arizona, Forcing Grand canyon North Rim Closure

FREDONIA, Ariz. (KUTV) –

A rapidly expanding wildfire, dubbed the White Sage Fire, has scorched nearly 50,000 acres in northern Arizona, triggering widespread evacuations, road closures, and a important interagency firefighting operation. The blaze, which ignited on July 10 east of White Sage, Arizona, approximately 13 miles southeast of Fredonia, was attributed to a lightning strike by Bureau of Land Management officials.

As of Tuesday, the fire had consumed 49,286 acres, with over 460 personnel engaged in suppression efforts managed collaboratively by the BLM and Coconino County emergency response teams. “The fire behavior has been really extreme because the conditions are so dry,” stated Rachel Carnahan, Public Affairs Officer for the BLM Arizona Strip District.”You have dry fuels, high temperatures, and wind gusts up to 25 miles an hour, which cause spotting, running, torching. That’s why we’ve seen so much movement on this fire.”

The fire’s aggressive spread has led it to jump Highway 89A, a critical route connecting the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to southern Utah communities.Air tankers have deployed more than 179,000 gallons of fire retardant in an attempt to curb its advance.

Public and firefighter safety remain the paramount concerns, with evacuations ordered for sections of the Kaibab National forest, including the Jacob Lake area. Consequently, the entire North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park has been closed to the public for the remainder of the year. “Throughout this incident,we’ve had a focus on human life and firefighter and public safety,” Carnahan emphasized. “Those evacuations with Coconino County took place early on, July 10 and 11, and included all of our visitors, campers, hunters, and residents.”

While the communities of White Sage and Fredonia are not currently facing direct fire threats,the region is still recovering from the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon lodge in the Dragon Bravo Fire,which ignited just days prior,approximately 30 miles to the southeast. George McCormick, a long-time Fredonia resident and former firefighter of 63 years, expressed concern over the lodge’s loss and the firefighting strategies employed. “This is the fourth one of these on the north Kaibab,” McCormick remarked. “They’ve almost burned down the whole mountain. And you can’t manage something you can’t manage.”

McCormick voiced criticism regarding what he perceives as an increasing reliance on “management” strategies that permit lightning-sparked wildfires to burn under observation rather than being aggressively suppressed. He highlighted the broader economic impact on the region, notably for communities dependent on tourism and seasonal income from the North Rim. “The people have businesses that depend on tourists,” he stated. “It’s going to affect them.The whole summer is gone. It’ll take a long time to build that back.”

BLM officials confirmed that crews are continuing thier efforts to contain the white Sage Fire,with additional resources being deployed.

July 16, 2025 0 comments

News

Wildfires in National Park Destroy Historic Grand Canyon Lodge

by David Harrison – Chief Editor July 15, 2025

written by David Harrison – Chief Editor

Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on the key facts:

Main Event: A wildfire, identified as the “Dragon Bravo Fire,” has caused meaningful damage at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.

key Impacts:

Grand Canyon Lodge destroyed: The historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a significant landmark offering panoramic views, has been completely destroyed by the fire. The lodge, originally built in 1937 after a previous fire, comprised a main building, deluxe cabins, and regular cabins.
North Rim Closure: The North Rim of the Grand Canyon will remain closed for the rest of the season (May 15 to October 15) due to the fire.
Evacuations: Staff and hikers were evacuated from the North Rim before the fire intensified, and no injuries or deaths were reported.
South Rim Advisory: Visitors to the more popular South Rim are advised to stay updated on potential air quality alerts.

Fire Management:

The National Park Service is employing an “aggressive full suppression strategy” to manage the fire,which is described as “still very active.”

Political Reaction:

Arizona Governor’s Concerns: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has called for a “comprehensive and independent investigation” into the federal government’s handling of the fire. She expressed concern that the fire was managed as a “controlled burn” during the driest and hottest part of the Arizona summer, leading to the devastating outcome.
Representative’s Statement: Rep. Greg Stanton (D-arizona) described the lodge’s destruction as “heartbreaking news.”

Other Details:

The text mentions a “chlorine leak” in the first sentence, but it’s unclear from the provided snippet how this relates to the wildfire.It might be a separate, unrelated incident mentioned in a preceding paragraph.
* The fire was reportedly started by a lightning strike.

In essence, the grand Canyon’s North Rim has suffered a major blow with the destruction of its historic lodge due to a wildfire, leading to its closure and prompting calls for an investigation into the fire’s management.

July 15, 2025 0 comments