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.

Over 1,000 people have been assigned to fight the Dragon Bravo Fire burning near the Grand Canyon and the White Sage Fire burning farther north.

Over 1,300 firefighters were involved in efforts to suppress two Arizona wildfires burning north of the Grand Canyon on Thursday.