The lightning-sparked White Sage Fire has exploded to about 1,000 acres with 0% containment as of the 10:40 p.m. MST report on July 10, roughly 15 miles southeast of Fredonia, Arizona, and only 1.5 miles from the community of White Sage, according to a federal incident page. The blaze, first reported around 7 p.m. MST on July 9, is chewing through dry pinion-juniper and grass under triple-digit heat, single-digit humidity and gusty southwest winds. The incident area is under an Extreme Heat Warning through Sunday, July 13, 7 p.m. MST, with forecast triple-digit temperatures.
Its rapid advance has triggered “GO” evacuations for the Jacob Lake community, forced the closure of Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim and shut both directions of U.S. Highway 89A at milepost 595 between Fredonia and Jacob Lake. U.S. 89A is closed southbound at state Route 389 in Fredonia and northbound at U.S. 89 in Bitter Springs.
The fire is the largest lightning start on the Arizona Strip so far this season, threatening a popular summer gateway that funnels tourists—and peak-season revenue—toward private campgrounds, RV resorts and park concessionaires on the Kaibab Plateau.
Investigators say lightning from passing thunderstorms ignited the blaze, and weather conditions continue to favor rapid spread. A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered to assume command of the fire, with life safety, the Jacob Lake community, North Rim infrastructure and the Highway 89A corridor listed as top priorities.
Two single-engine air tankers based in Mesquite dropped retardant the first night, and ground crews worked overnight July 9–10 to hold the south, east and northeast flanks. An air-attack platform joined the effort July 10. Additional Type 1 and Type 2 hand crews and fixed-wing retardant bases in Cedar City and Prescott are on standby as containment lines are scouted west of the highway.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office issued a GO order covering all areas north of Jacob Lake, all areas south of Jacob Lake to Forest Service Road 212, and all visitors and staff on Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, urging residents and visitors to leave immediately.
For outdoor-hospitality operators, the speed of that order underscores the value of a written wildfire action plan that assigns clear roles, maintains 30- to 50-foot defensible space around pads and glamping tents, and ensures gravel turnouts or secondary exits are ready long before flames appear. Staging hoses, shovels and portable water tanks, subscribing to local text-alert systems with battery-backup Wi-Fi, and posting laminated evacuation maps can keep guests calm and traffic moving when every minute counts.
All visitors and staff were evacuated from the North Rim, where park officials cautioned, “Evacuees should travel calmly at a normal rate of speed and stay on paved roads only. North Rim day use is closed until further notice.” — National Park Service statement, July 10, 2025.
Highway disruptions add another layer of complexity. U.S. 89A is closed southbound at state Route 389 in Fredonia and northbound at U.S. 89 in Bitter Springs, though eastbound lanes toward Lees Ferry and Page remain open, according to a transportation update. Motorists headed for the Grand Canyon must detour via U.S. 89 and state Route 64.
Sudden closures can wipe out months of bookings, so campground and resort owners are urged to build a tiered communication tree—text, email, social media and OTA messaging—to reach every guest within minutes. Offering automatic date changes or credit vouchers, establishing reciprocal agreements with properties outside the fire zone, using cloud-based property-management software for remote refunds, photographing assets for insurance and gathering post-incident guest feedback are proven ways to protect cash flow and brand reputation.
Smoke is expected to settle overnight in Fredonia, Vermilion Cliffs and Marble Canyon, and crews plan continued aerial drops, structure protection in Jacob Lake and new containment-line construction along the southern and eastern flanks during the next 48 hours.
Authorities urge residents, visitors and hospitality operators to heed official orders and stay tuned to verified updates, noting that preparation and clear communication remain the best defense when wildfires strike.