Fredonia, Arizona, September 29, 2025 — The Dragon Bravo Fire is 100% contained, meaning incident managers feel the fire is no longer at risk of spreading, even in the portions of the perimeter that could not be reached by foot or aircraft. Some smoke may be visible as unburned fuels well within the interior of the fire are consumed. Crews have continued to make progress on suppression repair work, making more areas safe for the public to return without compromising operations.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Kaibab National Forest will once again reduce the forest closure, reopening just over 25,000 additional acres of forest lands north of the Grand Canyon National Park boundary between Saddle Mountain Wilderness and Highway 67. In total, the public will have access to nearly 90% of the North Kaibab Ranger District.

The newly reopened area will include:

·         Arizona Trail Passage 40, Dog Point, East Rim Viewpoint, and Marble Viewpoint. Hikers should be aware of the potential for short re-reroutes on the Arizona Trail and follow any posted signage.

·         Multiple forest roads on the east side of Highway 67.

·         The Snowmobile Play Area on National Forest System Road (NFSR) 1050 storage location and the NFSR 257 / Hwy 89A storage location that have been used for wood and equipment staging

Saddle Mountain Wilderness, most of House Rock Valley within the North Kaibab Ranger District and some roads in the White Sage Fire footprint will remain closed due to ongoing flooding risk and other hazards. The area around the Incident Command Post on the west side of Highway 67 as well as the other three sites used for wood and equipment staging (the Orderville gravel pit off NFSR 247, the NFSR 765M gravel pit off NFSR 462, and Demotte Campground) will also remain closed.

Review the White Sage & Dragon Bravo Fires Temporary Closure on the Kaibab National Forest website for details and a more comprehensive list of open and closed locations.

Safety
Visitors are urged to use caution in the reopened areas. Hazards remain, including dead standing trees, the potential for flash flooding even in areas not directly affected by the fire, and the presence of crews conducting suppression repair activities. Drive with care and expect heavy traffic, particularly on Forest Roads 610 and 219, as numerous large trucks and heavy equipment will be on the roads.

Firewood gathering in the Dragon Bravo vicinity
In areas not identified as closed, fuelwood permit holders may collect the large-diameter, short length rounds and other wood stacked along roads. Beginning October 1, permit holders may also collect the firewood at the Snowmobile Play Area (NFSR 1050) and NFSR 257 / Hwy 89A storage locations.

At the Snowmobile Play Area, the large pile of slash and debris is slated for burning in the winter and is off limits to firewood collectors. The branches and small-diameter trees scattered across the forest floor are meant to help with erosion control and should be left in place. The log decks at the closed staging areas are slated for commercial sales to help support the local economy and timber industry and are not available to the general public.

Hunting in the North Kaibab Ranger District
The Forest Service continues to coordinate with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide tag holders access in time for their hunts. The area around the Incident Command Post may be ready for reopening in the next few weeks, as suppression repair operations are completed. The closures around the Saddle Mountain Wilderness and House Rock Valley, where there is greatest hazard to the public from post-fire flooding, will likely remain in place for longer.

Nearby locations
Forest visitors seeking amenities can find them at Kaibab Lodge and North Rim Country Store, Jacob Lake, the Town of Fredonia and City of Kanab.

The Grand Canyon National Park is also reopening select areas of the North Rim on October 1. Visit their Status of the North Rim webpage, www.nps.gov/grca/northrimstatus.htm, or contact the park for more information.

Moving forward
Restoring public access to the National Forest remains a top priority. Although some longer-term closures will be necessary in areas where hazards can’t be mitigated and the threat to public safety is too high, the Forest Service will continue incrementally reopening portions of the forest as soon as opportunity arises.