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.

The Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and continues to burn. See the devastation, plus readers share memories of the lodge.

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.

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.

U.S. land managers have long known that they have a problem on their hands with overgrown forests and persistent drought.