News Release

Truck hauling chickpeas catches on fire

NPS firefighters work on the burning truck.

NPS/Brian Aillaud

News Release Date: November 29, 2024

Contact: Death Valley PIO Team

Contact: Abby Wines

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – A tractor-trailer carrying 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas burned up in Death Valley National Park on November 21.

“When a commercial truck has a wreck or catches on fire, we worry about what it will release into the park,” said Superintendent Mike Reynolds. “However, there’s very little chance that stray chickpeas not cleaned up will become invasive species in the driest place in North America.”

The truck’s brakes overheated descending Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road, which is closed to commercial truck traffic. The truck driver pulled over soon after reaching flat terrain on CA-190.

The National Park Service (NPS) received notification of the fire around 5:30 am. Death Valley National Park, Caltrans, and California Highway Patrol responded.  Two Star Towing removed the wreckage and cleaned up the remaining dried chickpeas.