A truck transporting 44,000 pounds of chickpeas ignites in Death Valley.

Officials from Death Valley National Park reported that a truck caught fire in California due to overheated brakes.

A truck transporting 44,000 pounds of chickpeas ignites in Death Valley.
A truck transporting 44,000 pounds of chickpeas ignites in Death Valley.

In Death Valley National Park, California, a truck carrying 44,000 pounds of chickpeas caught fire while driving last month, according to park officials.

On Nov. 21 at 5:30 a.m., a truck descending Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road, which is closed to commercial truck traffic, experienced brake overheating and caught fire, according to the National Park Service.

Officials stated that the truck driver eventually stopped on flat terrain on CA-190 after the fire. No injuries were reported, and multiple agencies responded to the incident.

The superintendent of Death Valley National Park, Mike Reynolds, stated that commercial truck accidents or fires always prompt concerns about the release of materials into the park.

firefighters extinguishing truck fire
Firefighters extinguished a fire after a truck hauling 44,000 pounds of chickpeas burst into flames in Death Valley National Park last month. (NPS/Brian Aillaud)

Reynolds stated that although there is a minimal possibility that uncleaned stray chickpeas could turn into invasive species in the driest region of North America, it is unlikely to happen.

Death Valley National Park Sign Straight On
Officials said the chickpeas won't pose a hazard to the ecosystem at Death Valley National Park. (iStock)

Officials said that Two Star Towing removed the burnt debris and cleaned up the dried chickpeas in the park.

This year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the incident was one of a few truck fires to happen in the park.

Badwater Basin
Steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley "a land of extremes," NPS says on its website. (NPS/Hoerner, File)

In July, Torey Michener, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, stated to the paper that truck fires are often caused by driver error, specifically when drivers fail to use the engine to downshift and instead ride the brakes, which increases the speed and ultimately leads to the fire.

At the time, Abby Wines, a spokesperson for Death Valley National Park, informed the paper that many drivers are unaware that they can downshift to conserve brakes, even with an automatic transmission.

by Stephen Sorace

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