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.

A wildfire on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim has consumed some 5,000 acres and destroyed between 50 and 80 structures, including National Park Service administrative buildings, visitor facilities, a gas station and a water treatment plant.

A wind-whipped wildfire has reduced the nearly century-old Grand Canyon Lodge in far northern Arizona to a skeletal ruin, devastating many who considered it an intrinsic part of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The blaze tore through the historic structure within hours over the weekend.