Thomas Daniel Gibbs, a 35-year-old man from Freehold, New Jersey, has been missing for about a week in the Grand Canyon National Park, where a ‘mega-fire’ has been burning. The Dragon Bravo Fire, now the largest in the continental U.S. and among the top 10 largest in Arizona history, has devastated the area, leading to the closure of the North Rim for the 2025 season. Search efforts for Gibbs continue as officials warn of the fire’s intensity and the dangers it poses to both people and the environment.
The fire, which was ignited by a lightning strike on July 4, initially followed a ‘confine and contain’ strategy. However, high winds of up to 40 mph on July 12 caused a rapid spread overnight, reducing containment to just 4% by July 30. The fire has been so intense that it has created ‘fire clouds’ that can generate their own weather systems, including pyrocumulus and pyrocumulonimbus clouds. These clouds, which can reach thousands of feet in height, pose significant dangers for firefighters and contribute to the fire’s uncontrolled spread.
The Dragon Bravo Fire has destroyed approximately 70 structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and the North Rim Visitor Center. The National Park Service is currently focused on emergency stabilization to protect remaining infrastructure and natural resources. While the South Rim remains open to visitors, access to the North Rim is restricted until recovery and rebuilding efforts are completed. The park is committed to keeping the public informed as plans for recovery progress.
According to the National Park Service, Gibbs, described as a White male standing six-foot-one-inches tall, is believed to have been in the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area on July 22. He is further described as having brown hair and brown eyes, with no known tattoos. Park rangers are asking anyone who was in the Grandview Trail around July 22 and who may have seen Gibbs or has information on his whereabouts to contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009. Tips can also be submitted online at www.nps.gov/ISB or via email at [email protected].
Search efforts for Gibbs remain centered on a high-angle terrain near Grandview Point, according to USA Today. However, the National Park Service has not yet responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital. The fire’s rapid spread has also affected other regions, including a fire burning in Monroe, Utah. The heat from these fires has created ‘fire clouds’ that can produce their own weather systems, adding to the complexity of firefighting efforts.
Fire information officer Lisa Jennings of the National Park Service told the Associated Press that pyrocumulus clouds formed over the Arizona blaze for at least seven consecutive days. These clouds, which form when air over the fire becomes superheated and rises in a large smoke column, can be seen for hundreds of miles and can resemble an anvil. Their more treacherous counterpart, the pyrocumulonimbus cloud, has been observed over the Utah fire, sending rapid winds in all directions as a smoke column collapsed on itself. These clouds can create downdrafts, which are dangerous for firefighters on the ground.
The National Park Service has stated that the North Rim is closed for the remainder of the 2025 season due to damage and losses caused by the Dragon Bravo Wildfire. The park is currently focused on emergency stabilization to protect remaining infrastructure and natural resources. Planning is underway for the recovery and rebuilding of visitor facilities, including the Grand Canyon Lodge, although the process will take time. The South Rim remains open to visitors, but access to the North Rim and its facilities is not available until recovery efforts are completed.
The situation has raised concerns about the impact of wildfires on both the environment and human activity. The Dragon Bravo Fire has not only displaced residents and affected tourism but also highlighted the need for improved fire prevention strategies and emergency response capabilities in the region. As the search for Gibbs continues, officials remain focused on containing the fire and protecting the remaining parts of the Grand Canyon National Park.