A wildfire that tore through a historic Grand Canyon Lodge​ had been allowed to burn for days before erupting over the weekend, raising questions about federal officials' decision not to aggressively attack it right away.

The White Sage Fire, burning in northern Arizona near the destructive Dragon Bravo Fire, continues to grow with evacuations still in place.

Authorities maintained the evacuation zones for the White Sage Fire north of the Grand Canyon as the fire grew expectantly.

A rapidly growing wildfire in far northern Coconino County has scorched more than 40,000 acres which resulting in highway closures and evacuations. Dubbed the White Sage Fire, the blaze is one of two active wildfires burning near the northern rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon National Park is also under an extreme heat warning through the weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 115 degrees in low elevations.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) questioned the federal government’s handling of the fires burning the Grand Canyon, which have spread rapidly and destroyed dozens of buildings. Two wildfires, the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire,