A New Jersey man went missing in the Grand Canyon over a week ago as firefighters work to contain two massive wildfires near the North Rim.
Friends and family last heard from Thomas Daniel Gibbs, 35, of Freehold Township, on July 22, according to the National Park Service. His family and friends reported him missing July 28 and his Tesla Cybertruck was found the same day.
Here’s the latest on Gibbs’ disappearance.
What we know about NJ man missing in Grand Canyon
Thomas Michael Gibbs, 35, of Freehold Township, was reported missing by friends and family on Monday, July 28 after they last heard from him around noon on Tuesday, July 22 authorities said.
Gibbs is believed to have been in the Grand Canyon National Park’s Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area on July 22. His Tesla Cybertruck was found July 28 in the Grandview Point parking lot, located within the park’s South Rim. The trailhead for the Grandview Trail is located at Grandview Point, where there is a scenic overlook popular with tourists, according to the NPS.
Gibbs was described as a 6-foot-1-inch white man with brown hair and eyes. He does not have tattoos, authorities said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009; online; or via email at nps_isb@nps.gov.
See map of where NJ man went missing
Thomas Michael Gibbs’ truck was found in the Grandview Point parking lot, and authorities believe he was in the Grandview Trail and Horseshoe Mesa area. The Grandview Trail is six miles long and “easily the toughest and most rugged” of the Grand Canyon Park Service’s recommended day hikes, according to HikingGuy.com.
Where are the Grand Canyon fires?
On July 30, firefighters continued to battle two wildfires in Arizona: The Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and the White Sage Fire about 30 miles north in the Kaibab National Forest.
The White Sage Fire has burned over 59,000 acres and remained 83% contained as of July 29. The Dragon Bravo Fire was burning 71,000 acres and was 9% contained as of July 29.
Map of Grand Canyon fires
The map below from Google Maps shows where Thomas Michael Gibbs’ is believed to have been when he went missing on July 22 (marked by a red tag). Two wildfires continue to swell to the north, called the White Sage and Dragon Bravo fires.
A New Jersey man went missing near Horseshoe Mesa hiking area in Grand Canyon National Park, south of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ man missing as Grand Canyon fires burn. Here’s the latest
