The nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge in far northern Arizona was a refuge for ambitious hikers and adventurous tourists eager to bask in the magnificent views of one of the most remote and renowned landscapes in the world.

A historic lodge on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim is among more than 70 structures lost as a result of a fast-moving wildfire that continues to burn out of control.Video captured on July 14, shows smoke from the Dragon Bravo Fire along the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

The building was surrounded by vegetation on fire when a team of “helitack” firefighters arrived to protect the area on Tuesday. Grand Canyon National Park officials said the crews knew if the pump house fell, the consequences could cripple park operations for months.

A combination of high winds, dry air and above average temperatures caused a wildfire in the Grand Canyon to rapidly expand and cause major damage.

A wildfire in tinder-dry forest destroyed dozens of buildings, prompting public outrage that it was left to burn for a week before firefighters tried to fully extinguish it.

The national parks of the West are a treasure, and once you are immersed in all their massive grandeur, it’s easy to assume they’ll always be there. I know it’s become a cliché, but the Joni Mitchell lyric from “Big Yellow Taxi” keeps running through my mind as I write this: “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.

12News was invited aboard a Blackhawk helicopter for the governor’s aerial tour. The flight began early in the morning from the Arizona Army National Guard base at Papago Park. After a brief stop at Flagstaff Airport to pick up Hobbs and refuel, the group continued north toward the Grand Canyon.