A fierce blaze that has burned along the Grand Canyon's North Rim since being sparked by lightning on July 4 has exploded in size in recent days, reaching "megafire" status and becoming the largest wildfire in the U.S. this year, according to the Arizona Republic.

The Dragon Bravo Fire exploded in size along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim this week as heat and strong winds drove the growth.

A wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon has grown into what experts call a “megafire,” and it has even developed its own weather. The Dragon Bravo fire has been burning for a month near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim after it was sparked by lightning on July 4, according to a news release from the Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team.