News Release

Vehicle fire in Panamint Valley

Firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s Engine 57, based in Trona, finish putting out the fire.

NPS

News Release Date: August 13, 2024

Contact: e-mail us, 760-786-3221

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – A fire destroyed a travel trailer in Death Valley National Park on Sunday, August 11.  

The fire started as the vehicle descended Towne Pass toward Panamint Valley on CA-190. The driver and his wife saved their pickup truck by unhooking from the burning fifth wheel trailer. They tried to put out the fire with fire extinguishers. 

The driver and his wife said they believe a propane issue near the refrigerator started the fire.  

An off-duty National Park Service (NPS) employee reported the fire. Death Valley National Park is temporarily unable to staff its fire engine due to a shortage of employees with firefighting certification. San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, Mojave National Preserve, CHP, Caltrans, and the Bureau of Land Management responded to this incident.