The fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon started from a lightning strike but was managed as a controlled burn until it spread.

Businesses that rely on tourist revenue near the Grand Canyon have taken a major hit as wildfires rage across the region, destroying more than 100 structures in the park.

Gov. Katie Hobbs questioned why the U.S. government decided to manage the Dragon Bravo fire, which started with a lightning strike, as a “controlled burn” during the height of the summer.

The Grand Canyon Lodge was the park's one and only hotel, according the National Park Service, with the next nearest lodgings roughly 18 miles away.

Sen. Mark Kelly says, despite the damage done by the Dragon Bravo Fire, letting some fires burn can be important to reduce risk.

Arizona's governor has demanded an investigation into why a wildfire that destroyed a historic lodge and dozens of other structures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was allowed to burn for a week before federal firefighters tried to put it out.

A mix of high temperatures, gusty winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation has fuelled the fire's swift advance in Arizona, officials say.