NPS firefighters responding to tractor-trailer fire on November 21, 2024, Death Valley National Park / NPS-Miguel Jurado
One wouldn’t think chickpeas might become a problem at Death Valley National Park in California until a tractor-trailer carrying 44,000 pounds (19,958 kg) of dried chickpeas burned up in the 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 received notification of the fire around 5:30 a.m. Death Valley National Park, Caltrans, and California Highway Patrol responded. Two Star Towing removed the wreckage and cleaned up the remaining dried chickpeas.
Dried chickpeas spilling out of the burning trailer, Death Valley National Park / NPS-Miguel Jurado
