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

Update: As of December 8, some of the chickpeas have sprouted, due to the large amount of water sprayed to supress the truck fire. Park biologists are still not concerned about the non-native plants beoming invasive.

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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.

On December 8, a NPS employee squats next to small chickpea sprouts at the fire location. The seeds sprouted because of the large volume of water sprayed on the truck fire. The plants are not expected to survive.

NPS