Arizona’s historic Grand Canyon Lodge was among dozens of structures destroyed by a devastating wildfire, including a water treatment plant which forced firefighters to evacuate after it began leaking chlorine gas into the air. Between 50 and 80 buildings went up in flames after the Dragon Bravo wildfire rapidly expanded across the north rim of the Grand Canyon overnight on Sunday, spreading to more than 5,000 acres after being fueled by 40mph winds. “Numerous” other historic cabins in the area were also destroyed, the national park confirmed. “As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,” park spokesperson Debbie Albert said in a statement. All guests and employees staying at the lodge during the fire were safely evacuated, she added. A number of valuable historical artifacts stored in the lodge are also believed to have been destroyed, including a 600-pound bronze statue of a donkey named “Brighty the Burro.” Another nearby wildfire in the Kaibab National Forest also doubled in size to 40,000 acres on Sunday, forcing hundreds to evacuate. As of Monday morning, it has not yet been contained.
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