The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is now closed after a growing wildfire sparked by a lightning strike expanded to more than 8,000 acres and prompted evacuation orders. It comes as soaring temperatures are making it difficult to combat the flames.

Two wildfires burning roughly 30 miles apart have scorched more than 24,000 acres of forest near the Grand Canyon, according to state and federal fire officials.

The park said along with the fire risk, they could potentially be exposed to chlorine gas after the treatment plant burned.