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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 Dragon Bravo Fire was active on Saturday due to hot, dry weather conditions, according to an incident update on Sunday. Containment on the fire has now reached 8%.