ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. land managers are racing the clock as hotter, drier weather raises the risk of wildfires in the nation’s overgrown forests with each passing year.

Wildfires burning at or near the Grand Canyon's North Rim are still raging as strong winds, high heat and low humidity persist.

"We were just short on resources, didn't have enough people, enough aircraft to get there and, you know, effectively fight the fire," said Stanley in a phone interview, speaking of his first night working on the fire as part of an air attack crew.

Two wildfires continue to burn near the Grand Canyon; the White Sage Fire has burned nearly 53,000 acres and is 4% contained. The Dragon Bravo Fire has burned about 8,500 acres.

A combination of high winds, dry air and above average temperatures caused a wildfire in the Grand Canyon to rapidly expand and cause major damage.

The Grand Canyon Lodge in far northern Arizona that was an elusive getaway for nearly a century has been destroyed by a wildfire.

After the Dragon Bravo fire destroyed the historic lodge and other buildings on the night of the eleventh, Horning noticed on his phone app that two helicopters began water drops on the morning of the twelfth and slurry drops began on the thirteenth.

A water treatment facility at the North Rim had been compromised by the fire, causing chlorine gas to fall towards the bottom of the canyon.

In this secluded paradise, mail still arrives by mule, turquoise cascades tumble into travertine pools, and time flows at the pace of the river.