(TLP:CLEAR) Wildfires in Arizona Burned Down a Water Treatment Facility, Underscoring the Significant Risk of Wildfires to Critical Infrastructure

Summary: Two wildfires in Arizona, the Dragon Bravo Fire and the White Sage Fire, are actively burning through parts of the Grand Canyon. One of the fires destroyed a water treatment facility and disrupted other critical infrastructure sectors, underscoring the significant risk wildfires pose to the water and wastewater sector.

Analyst Note: The Dragon Bravo Fire ignited on July 4 in the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park as a result of a lightning strike. The White Sage Fire, located in the North Rim just north of the Dragon Bravo Fire, started on July 11, also caused by a lightning strike. As of July 16, the Dragon Bravo Fire has burned approximately 9,200 acres and is still at zero percent containment. The White Sage Fire, located north of the Drago Bravo Fire, has burned over 52,000 acres with four percent containment. Both fires have caused significant damage, including the destruction of multiple structures such as the Grand Canyon Lodge at North Rim.

According to open-source reports, on July 12, a fire at the Grand Canyon water treatment facility located at the North Rim caused a chlorine gas release, which has since been contained, and forced firefighters to evacuate. The water treatment facility was subsequently destroyed in the wildfire. Power to the Grand Canyon National Park North Rim is currently shut off. Power lines supplying electricity to water pumping stations in the north and south rims are currently at risk of being burned. Several transportation roads are also closed.

Wildfires are expected to grow more frequent and intense amid the earth’s warming climate. Given that, water and wastewater utilities are encouraged to review their wildfire emergency response plans and update them based on the lessons learned from previous disasters.

Wildfires present a direct risk to property and water and wastewater infrastructure assets, in addition to potential degradation of the water supply, according to EPA. When drinking water systems are damaged in a fire, “we can have ash, smoke, soot, other debris and gases get sucked into the water piping network,” said Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor. WaterISAC has previously reported about the threat of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from fires to water utilities.

Original Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/canadian-wildfires-2025-grand-canyon-black-canyon/  

Additional Reading:

• A wildfire that destroyed historic Grand Canyon Lodge spread after being allowed to burn for days

Mitigation Recommendations:

• EPA – Incident Action Checklist – Wildfire
• EPA – Wildfire Conditions and Risk Map for Utilities
• EPA – Addressing Contamination of Drinking Water Distribution Systems from VOCs After Wildfires

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16, 17, & 18