A month after a wildfire broke out on the edge of the Grand Canyon in the USA, American firefighters were still trying to bring the fire under control on Monday, writes UNN with reference to AFP.
Details
A lightning strike on July 4, US Independence Day, sparked a fire that quickly spread across the canyon's North Rim, a major attraction for local and foreign tourists.
The Dragon Bravo fire, named after the Dragon rock formation near the ignition site, was initially allowed to burn unimpeded as it is part of a natural cycle that thins vegetation and renews the landscape.
But a week later, strong winds sweeping through Arizona fanned the flames, causing the fire to hit a large hotel, as well as a tourist center in North Rim and several guest houses.
A nearby water treatment plant was also damaged, releasing gaseous chlorine into the environment.
The fire, which now covers more than 50,000 hectares, is being actively fought by more than 1,000 personnel - from the air and ground.
"(On Sunday) firefighters patrolled and controlled the eastern and western flanks of the fire," fire suppression leaders reported on Monday. "Despite relative humidity of up to four percent, they managed to minimize the spread of the fire."
"In the southwestern part of the fire, firefighters were able to directly engage in extinguishing," they noted.
The containment level - the perimeter area where firefighters have completely stopped the spread of the fire - was 13% on Monday.
Humidity in the region remains low, and the seasonal monsoon brings precipitation significantly below expected levels, the publication indicates.
Addition
Dozens of wildfires rage annually in North America, many of which are caused by lightning.
Those that do not threaten populated areas are now often left to burn by loggers who understand the need for forest regeneration that such fires bring. This policy contradicts what was in effect for most of the last 150 years, when managers took an aggressive stance on fire suppression.
This had an unforeseen effect: some areas were overloaded with "fuel" for fires, and if they caught fire, they could burn much more intensely and quickly.
Although wildfires are a natural phenomenon, human activity, in particular the uncontrolled use of fossil fuels, is changing the climate, often increasing the likelihood of fires and making them more destructive, the publication indicates.