January 01, 2025

Big rig fire in Death Valley due to brake failure

Steve Smith

Big rig fire in Death Valley due to brake failure

A big rig's brakes caught fire on December 29, 2024, in Death Valley National Park, leading to the discovery that the driver had a suspended license.

The details: The fire began when the brakes overheated while descending CA-190, a steep route that drops about 5,000 feet from Towne Pass.

Death Valley National Park officials noted this was the eighth vehicle fire in the park this year, with six linked to overheated brakes.
Firefighters from the National Park Service and Beatty were quick to extinguish the fire, preventing further damage.

Warning for truckers: Drivers are advised to downshift on steep grades and stop if needed to cool their brakes.

Commercial trucks aren't recommended on CA-190 because of its sharp descents, NPS pointed out in a statement. The driver was promptly cited for the license violation, according to an NPS press release.

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