Truck Carrying 44,000 Pounds of Dried Chickpeas Catches Fire in Death Valley National Park
Incident Report
A truck carrying 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas caught fire in Death Valley National Park on November 21, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. when the truck, which was descending Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road, experienced brake failure due to overheating.
Response and Cleanup Efforts
The truck driver managed to pull over to a safe location on California State Route 190 (CA-190) after the fire broke out. NPS firefighters responded to the incident, along with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol. Two Star Towing removed the wreckage and cleaned up the remaining dried chickpeas.
Superintendent’s Statement
"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."
Aftermath
The incident did not result in any injuries or fatalities, but it did cause significant damage to the truck and its cargo. The NPS, Caltrans, and California Highway Patrol all worked together to contain the fire and clean up the area.
FAQs
Q: What was the cause of the fire?
A: The truck’s brakes overheated, causing the fire.
Q: How much cargo was on the truck?
A: The truck was carrying 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas.
Q: Was anyone injured in the incident?
A: No, there were no reported injuries or fatalities.
Q: Who responded to the incident?
A: NPS firefighters, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, and Two Star Towing.
Q: What was the outcome of the incident?
A: The truck was damaged, and the cargo was cleaned up, but no one was injured, and the fire was contained.
