The fire destroyed about 70 structures at the North Rim, including a water treatment facility causing a chlorine gas leak.

A wildfire has destroyed a historic lodge and dozens of other structures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, raising questions over the National Park Service's decision not to aggressively fight the fire straight away.

A wildfire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has consumed some 5,000 acres and destroyed between 50 and 80 structures, including National Park Service administrative buildings, visitor facilities, a gas station and a water treatment plant.