PHOENIX — As crews continue working to fully suppress the Dragon Bravo Fire north of the Grand Canyon, one Arizona lawmaker is pushing for safe access to be restored to the North Rim of the national park.
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly made the request in a letter sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. National Parks Service Director Jessica Bowron on Wednesday.
“The toll on Arizona communities has been severe,” Kelly said in the letter. “Arizona communities such as Jacob Lake, Fredonia, Marble Canyon, Page and the Navajo Nation all depend on recreation-driven tourism tied to Grand Canyon National Park and surrounding public lands.”
These areas typically welcome 5 million visitors each year who create an economic impact of about $1 billion, according to Kelly.
“This year, many of these