We Name the Fires

A News Response Poem

Fire on the North Rim.
Fire in the trees.
Fire where the lodge once stood.
Fire where cities once stood.

Dragon Bravo.
White Sage.
Lake Fire.
South Fork.
Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire.

Contain and confine,
they said.
But no one asked the wind.

We name the fires.
But they don’t answer.

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Author’s Note: A wildfire broke out earlier this week in Grand Canyon National Park, burning hundreds of acres near the North Rim, likely sparked by lightning. It quickly grew out of control due to dry conditions, high winds, dense vegetation, and limited firefighting resources in the park’s steep, rugged terrain. The historic lodge at the North Rim was destroyed, drawing widespread media coverage and public concern. Although the fire posed serious risks, it is also being partly managed to reduce hazardous fuels and promote long-term forest health. This fire is the latest in several years of devastating blazes, most recently in LA, New Mexico and Oregon.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/us/politics/grand-canyon-fire-north-rim-arizona.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grand-canyon-lodge-wildfire-burned-for-days-before-it-spread/

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