by Matthew Holloway | Mar 17, 2026 | Must Read, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) to speed recovery efforts at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon passed the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous, bipartisan support.
According to a statement released by Crane’s office, the House approved the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, which aims to accelerate rebuilding efforts following the Dragon Bravo Fire that damaged infrastructure and surrounding areas in 2025.
The bill, cosponsored by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ09), seeks to streamline the federal contracting process by granting the National Park Service (NPS) emergency contracting authority to expedite recovery projects.
“Five months ago, I introduced the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025 after listening to folks on the ground who were directly impacted by this devastating fire,” Crane said in a statement. “Whether speaking with small business owners, local officials, or park staff, it became clear that removing red tape and bureaucratic hurdles would benefit all stakeholders. Today’s unanimous vote sends a clear message that America refuses to abandon our iconic landmarks and storied communities. This timely response would not be possible without the leadership of Chairman Westerman, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, and everyone else who helped build this blueprint. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to embrace our strong momentum and send this critical bill to the president’s desk.”
In a post to X, Crane wrote, “It’s time for the Senate to harness this strong bipartisan momentum.”
The Dragon Bravo Fire, sparked by a lightning strike in July 2025, destroyed more than 100 structures on the North Rim, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. The damage disrupted tourism and impacted park employees, local businesses, and nearby communities that rely on visitation to the park.
Crane introduced the legislation on October 9, 2025, after meeting with park officials, local leaders, and business owners about recovery efforts in northern Arizona.
According to the text of the legislation, the measure authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to use federal emergency acquisition flexibilities when contracting for recovery work within the affected areas of Grand Canyon National Park. The authority would apply to forest restoration, infrastructure rebuilding, and other recovery improvements.
The bill also requires the National Park Service to provide Congress with a comprehensive report every 180 days detailing recovery progress and federal expenditures.
The legislation advanced through the House Committee on Natural Resources with unanimous support before receiving approval from the full House. Local officials have expressed support for the measure, including the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, which endorsed the legislation during the legislative process.
The North Rim Restoration Act now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Dec 4, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Beginning Dec. 6, 2025, all in-park hotels on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, and Trailer Village, will shutter indefinitely to overnight guests. The closure decision was prompted by a series of significant breaks in the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline supplying the park’s water, the National Park Service revealed Tuesday.
As of mid-November, water is no longer being pumped to the South Rim, the National Park Service said, forcing park officials to suspend overnight stays and dial back visitor amenities. The NPS reported that overnight stays at accommodations outside of the park in nearby Tusayan are unaffected.
According to NPS, “The waterline has exceeded its expected lifespan and experiences frequent failures, which require expensive and continuous maintenance work to repair leaks. The National Park Service started construction in 2023 on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline and upgrades to the associated water delivery system. This crucial investment in infrastructure will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for five million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.”
The Park Service is asking year-round residents to help conserve water by taking steps to reduce usage, such as limiting showers to 5 minutes or less, turning off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, flushing toilets only when necessary, washing laundry only with full loads, and reporting leaks to the appropriate authorities.
In a Tuesday press release, the agency said that “Dry Camping,” requiring campers to transport their own water, will continue to be permitted, with water spigot access available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk; however, spigots inside the campground have been shut down. Faucets in park bathrooms will also remain operational.
Grand Canyon National Park Public Affairs Officer and Communications Lead, Joëlle Baird, suggested that the closure could be resolved relatively quickly, saying, “If all planned work proceeds without additional issues, we anticipate being able to restore water service and begin reopening overnight lodging as early as next week.”
The outlet reported that welding repairs to the 1960s-vintage pipeline were progressing on Wednesday despite a fresh snowfall, and the current repair schedule calls for flushing and recharging the system over the next several days.
In the aftermath of the devastating Dragon Bravo fire, hotel closures are an additional blow to parkgoers. In addition, a complete prohibition on all fires remains in place for the South Rim and inner canyon areas, such as “outdoor wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 17, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) has introduced the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025 to streamline federal contracting and accelerate recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire.
The fire, sparked by lightning on July 4, burned 145,504 acres in Grand Canyon National Park and the Kaibab National Forest before being declared fully contained, almost four months later, on September 29th. It destroyed key infrastructure across the parks, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, leading to partial closures of the North Rim that are likely to continue throughout the 2025 season. The closures have reportedly impacted park staff, local communities, and the tourism revenue from the site that generates billions annually for Arizona’s economy.
The bill grants the National Park Service emergency contracting authority to bypass standard procurement delays for fire recovery efforts, including forest management, maintenance, rebuilding, and infrastructure upgrades. It requires the agency to submit progress reports to Congress every 180 days.
Original cosponsors include Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08), as well as House Natural Resources Committee members: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar (R-AZ09), Subcommittee on Federal Lands Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-WI07), Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA01), and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT02).
“While the Dragon Bravo Fire dealt a setback for Northern Arizona, we won’t let this tragedy define our future. We have an opportunity to rebuild stronger and better than before, and we can’t let unnecessary regulations get in the way,” Crane said in a statement. “This legislation paves the way for an efficient recovery, and I’m grateful for the bipartisan support on this approach. I also want to thank our heroic firefighters and first responders who brought the fire to full containment, as well as the local leaders in Coconino County who are committed to restoring this treasured place.”
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors praised the act stating, “Coconino County supports the North Rim Restoration Act, which gives the National Park Service the ability to respond swiftly and thoughtfully, not only to rebuild the physical structures, but to restore the enduring spirit of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. We are deeply grateful to Representative Crane for championing this legislation and recognizing the devastation caused by the Dragon Bravo Fire and the heartbreaking loss for everyone who treasures this extraordinary place.”
Crane previewed the bill in an Oct. 9 post to X, writing, “Tomorrow, I’m introducing the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025. This legislation will eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and expedite the rebuild of the Grand Canyon. While the Dragon Bravo Fire dealt a setback for #AZ02, we won’t let this tragedy define our future.”
Crane also announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans via the U.S. Small Business Administration in early September. The loans will assist businesses, nonprofits, and tribal nations that endured economic losses from the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), under President Trump, is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to help businesses, nonprofits, and tribal nations recover from the devastating 2025 wildfires. The loans respond to the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which scorched the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab Plateau in Northern Arizona.
The federal disaster declaration, issued by the SBA on August 13th, covers the Arizona counties of Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai, as well as the tribal nations of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
According to a press release from the SBA, “The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.”
The administration clarified that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is available to eligible businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. However, the administration noted it is “unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.”
The SBA explained that the purpose of the loans is “for working capital needs caused by the disaster, and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.”
As of this report, the Dragon Bravo fire has burned over 145,000 acres and is 62% contained. It has cut a swath of destruction from the north rim of the Grand Canyon northward along both sides of Arizona State Route 67 for about 12 miles and then along the east side of the State Route for nearly another twenty miles, leaving a scar almost 16 miles wide at its widest point.
The White Sage fire has burned nearly 59,000 acres and is 95% contained after spreading in a widening eastward arc from White Sage flat through the Kaibab National Forest toward Coyote Valley.
In July, Governor Katie Hobbs met with Trump administration officials, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, to coordinate with federal authorities on the Dragon Bravo wildfire, days after Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ09) joined a growing bipartisan coalition of Arizona leaders calling for an investigation into it. The fire claimed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge along with 50-80 other structures in the area in mid-July.
For more information about the SBA EID loans or to apply, please click here, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jul 28, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs traveled to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to meet with Trump administration officials, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, to coordinate with federal authorities on the Dragon Bravo wildfire, which has claimed over 16,000 acres and is 26% contained as of this report. The move from Hobbs represents a rare departure from the governor’s antagonistic stance with Republicans in general, and the Trump administration in particular.
Along with Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, including fellow Democrats, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and Republican Congressmen Paul Gosar and Eli Crane, Hobbs has called for an investigation into the measures used to control the fire and the policies that led to it as well.
In a post to X, Hobbs stood for a photo-op with the former North Dakota Governor-turned-Interior Secretary writing, “I was glad to meet today with @SecretaryBurgum. We both agreed to work together to combat the Dragon Bravo Fire and rebuild from the destruction. The Secretary also committed to an independent review of the decisions made during the Dragon Bravo Fire containment process. This accountability is essential as we work to ensure this never happens again.”
Following a tour of the devastated National Park lands on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Hobbs said, “This is federal jurisdiction, but fire doesn’t know that boundary, and we all have to work together.”
“Seeing the complexity that goes into managing an incident like this is helpful, and certainly, I feel good about going back to Arizonans and saying, ‘Look, everyone’s concerned about making sure that we’re protecting as much as possible, and that we can rebuild, because the Grand Canyon is so important to our state,’” Hobbs said.
Congressman Gosar said in a statement last week:
“I am concerned that the Dragon Bravo Wildfire is the direct result of recently inherited policies from the Biden Administration.
“We must not waver in our efforts to seek answers for the people of Arizona. Today, I call on Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Burgum, to seek answers for the people of Arizona, who want answers as to the causes of this disaster and what can be done to prevent tragedies like this in the future.
“The people of Arizona will not be calling for answers alone. I will continue to seek answers and solutions, because these wildfires deeply impact Arizonans and our state.”
Speaking with KAFF News Tuesday, Rep. Eli Crane described the fire’s devastation as “heartbreaking” and said, “Generations of Arizonans have made priceless memories at the North Rim, so this is a very tragic loss. I also want to see the North Rim built back bigger and better than ever.”
Answering a caller’s challenge to rebuild the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, lost to the flames, Crane said, “We will continue to do what we can on this issue. I know how important it is to Arizona and our district. Let’s also modernize it so it can be open year-round.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
