Firefighters Respond to Trailer Fire on CA-190;

8th vehicle fire of 2024

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – National Park Service (NPS) and Beatty firefighters successfully extinguished a trailer fire in Death Valley National Park on December 29, 2024. The fire began when the brakes of a tractor-trailer overheated while descending nearly 5,000 vertical feet from Towne Pass on California State Route 190 (CA-190). The driver was cited for driving with a suspended license.

“This was the eighth vehicle fire this year in Death Valley National Park, and the sixth fire due to overheated brakes,” said Mike Reynolds, Superintendent of Death Valley National Park. “We want to remind drivers of heavy vehicles to down-shift on steep grades and consider pulling over to allow their brakes to cool down.”

Commercial trucks are not advised on CA-190 due to steep grades. Commercial trucks are prohibited on other roads within Death Valley National Park.

Trailer fire on December 29, 2024.
NPS photo

Trailer fire on December 29, 2024.
NPS photo