Lost Horse Fire Fully Contained

At 8 a.m., Incident Commander Chuck Heard declared the 450-acre 2009 Lost Horse Fire to be 100% contained with just a few firefighters still working the fire to check for any hotspots. The scenic drive to Keys View is open again to the public. The Cap Rock Nature Trail has also been reopened for visitor use.

Park Superintendent Curt Sauer praised the firefighters and support personnel for their work on the Lost Horse Fire. “Exotic grasses and weeds change the desert’s natural ecology and its normal fire frequency. Because of this, Joshua Tree National Park has a full suppression approach to wildfires. The timely and professional response of fire crews to the Lost Horse Fire minimized effects of the fire to native vegetation. Through the skillful efforts of fire crews, the historic Lost Horse Mine and stamp mill were left untouched, and no injuries were experienced by firefighters or park visitors.”

The following areas remain closed to public use to allow for the remaining fire operations: the Lost Horse Mine Road and trailhead, the Oyster Bar parking area, and the Hall of Horrors parking area. All other park areas and facilities are open for normal visitor use.

Last updated: April 1, 2015

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Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597

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760 367-5500

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