A New Jersey man, Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, has been missing for over a week in Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park, coinciding with a massive wildfire that has consumed more than 123,000 acres. Gibbs last communicated with his loved ones around midday on July 22 and was officially declared missing six days later. His Tesla Cybertruck was found abandoned in a parking lot at the popular Grandview Point, as reported by the National Park Service.
Gibbs, a native of Freehold, New Jersey, is thought to have set out on a hike on the challenging Grandview Trail and Horseshore Mesa on the day he last made contact. Surveillance footage captured Gibbs before his disappearance, but no further evidence of his whereabouts has been found.
First responders initiated a comprehensive search around the Grandview Trail, deploying ground teams, search dogs, and drones. Despite the ongoing Dragon Bravo megafire, which has ravaged over 123,434 acres along the canyon’s northern rim and was only 13% contained as of Tuesday, the search for Gibbs was not impeded.
The lightning-induced fire has destroyed approximately 70 structures and led to the closure of the Grand Canyon’s northern rim for the rest of the season due to extensive damage. However, officials have stated that the wildfire did not obstruct the search efforts for Gibbs, and a thorough search of the area was conducted despite the challenging conditions.
Search teams from the Grand Canyon National Park and Coconino County Search and Rescue collaborated to ensure a comprehensive search of the area. However, the National Park Service reported that they found no evidence of Gibbs’ location and began to scale back the search over the weekend due to the absence of further clues or evidence suggesting Gibbs was in the broader Grandview Trail area.
The Dragon Bravo fire has been burning since July 4, exacerbated by hot, dry conditions and strong winds. The U.S. Forest Service declared it a “mega-fire” on July 31 when the fire exceeded 100,000 acres in size. It is currently the largest fire burning in the continental US and ranks among the top 10 largest in Arizona’s recorded history. The fire’s perimeter is so vast that driving around it would be equivalent to driving from New York City to Washington DC.