The Dragon Bravo fire burns on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon as seen from the South Rim July 14, 2025.

A firefighter battling a large blaze on the Grand Canyon's North Rim died in the line of duty, according to park and fire command officials.

On the afternoon of Sept. 8, a firefighter working to suppress the Dragon Bravo Fire near the North Rim entrance station suffered a "cardiac emergency," fire command officials said in a news release on InciWeb, a federal wildfire tracker.

First aid was provided by a paramedic, but attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful, according to the fire command. The identity of the firefighter had not yet been released, as of Sept. 9. His death was being investigated by the National Park Service alongside the Coconino County Medical Examiner, according to fire command.

"We deeply appreciate this firefighter’s dedication to his profession and to the communities threatened by wildland fire," the news release said, adding that support was being provided to the man's fellow firefighters and friends.

As of Sept. 9, the Dragon Bravo Fire had grown to 145,504 acres and was 80% contained, according to InciWeb. The fire remained the seventh largest in Arizona history.

The Dragon Bravo Fire has been burning for over two months after it was ignited by a lightning strike and was fueled by powerful winds, dry air and above-normal temperatures. The blaze, which fire officials allowed to burn for land management purposes, grew unruly and ravaged the North Rim, destroying dozens of structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs paid tribute to the fallen firefighter on social media.

"Arizona mourns the tragic loss of a firefighter who made the ultimate sacrifice while battling the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim," Hobbs said. "We honor their bravery, and I extend my deepest condolences to their family, loved ones, and the entire firefighting community."

Hobbs visited the burn area of the Dragon Bravo Fire in July and had called for further investigation into its cause.

An investigation by The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, found that the fire was allowed to burn for seven days after a July 4 lightning strike touched off the blaze – even as fuel and weather conditions repeatedly reached the brink of critical thresholds for fire risk.

Officials repeatedly minimized fire risks and touted the benefits of letting the fire burn, according to The Republic's findings. National Park Service spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz maintained the fire was "expertly handled" and said the quick response by firefighters saved hundreds of lives.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Firefighter dies battling wildfire near Grand Canyon

Reporting by Rey Covarrubias Jr. and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY NETWORK / Arizona Republic

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect