The fire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon started from a lightning strike but was managed as a controlled burn until it spread.

Gov. Katie Hobbs questioned why the U.S. government decided to manage the Dragon Bravo fire, which started with a lightning strike, as a “controlled burn” during the height of the summer.

Arizona's governor has demanded an investigation into why a wildfire that destroyed a historic lodge and dozens of other structures on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon was allowed to burn for a week before federal firefighters tried to put it out.

As of Monday, the Dragon Bravo fire on the North Rim had consumed more than 5,700 acres and was not contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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What fueled the explosive growth of the Dragon Bravo Fire was a mix of gusty winds, dry air and above-normal heat – weather conditions experts described as atypical for this time of year, when monsoonal moisture typically tamps down wildfire risk across Arizona.

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

Arizona's highest-ranking elected officials are demanding answers after fire managers waited several days to attack the wildfire that ultimately destroyed a historic landmark at the Grand Canyon. The strategy has raised questions about a response that prioritized containing the lightning-sparked fire on the North Rim over immediately extinguishing it.