The National Park Service is defending its handling of a lightning-sparked wildfire that destroyed the nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge and dozens of historic cabins, saying containment lines had been built around the blaze and crews were prepared to conduct defensive firing operations.

The Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, often described as the park’s quieter, wilder side, is now closed indefinitely following a fast-moving wildfire that has engulfed more than 8,500 acres and destroyed dozens of structures, including one of the park’s most beloved landmarks, the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

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.