Fire burns at Joshua Tree National Park
A wildfire burning in the Joshua Tree National Park has blackened 300 acres. Firefighters are working around the clock and have it 25% contained.
National Park rangers say the “Quail Fire” erupted Sunday afternoon after a lightning strike hit the area North of Keys View Scenic Overlook. Lightning sparking a fire is not uncommon in the park. “Fires occuring in the park, about 74% of the fires that we have occur in the park are from lightning,” said George Land from the National Park Service.
Firefighters say the flames are burning through rocky hillsides covered with pinyon pine, junipers, and Joshua trees. The rocky terrain presents some challenges for fire crews. “Where the fire is, is a relatively remote area,” Land.”There are some passages back in there, but this is one of the reasons we bring in the air attack to help with that.”
Park officials have closed the Keys View Road, a one-way scenic drive, between Cap Rock and the Keys View Overlook to allow the area to be used for firefighting personnel and equipment. A total of 97 firefighters are working the fire . Air resources include an air attack fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters are providing water drops.
Over the weekend, a total of four lightning-strike fires ignited in the park- three in the Covington Flats area on the west side of the park, and the Quail Fire. Due to quick, aggressive response by fire crews, the Covington Flats fires were all fully contained by Sunday with the largest reaching one-half acre in size. In the nearby San Bernardino Forest, lightning sparked 25 small fires over the weekend, prompting officials at the national parks to be on high alert. “It is something that we are on alert for, especially this time of the year, with no more precipitation than we had earlier this summer,”said Land. “Like I said, the vegetation is very dry.”
Dry brush and trees paired with the lightning have created a tinderbox in the park. “It’s been tremendously dry, we’ve had very dry year here,” said Land. “There was rain in the park, however, very little if any, where the fire is located.”
Apart from the Keys View Road, all park roads and visitor facilities are open for normal summer use.
The weather forecast for Monday calls for hot temperatures with occasional local thunderstorm activity. Park visitors should be alert to potential flash flood activity in desert washes and low-lying areas. The public is urged to follow all signs and safety directions from park rangers and other emergency personnel.
