Truck Carrying 44,000 Pounds of Chickpeas Catches Fire in Death Valley

The fire, caused by overheated brakes on a prohibited route, highlights recurring vehicle safety issues in the national park.

A tractor-trailer hauling 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas caught fire on November 21 while descending a steep, commercial truck-restricted road in Death Valley National Park.
The truck's brakes overheated, a common issue on the park's steep grades, leading to the fire; the driver was uninjured and managed to pull over on flat terrain.
This incident marks the seventh vehicle fire in the park this year, with most cases involving heavy vehicles and brake failure on steep descents.
National Park officials and towing services responded to the scene, removing the wreckage and spilled chickpeas, which were deemed unlikely to harm the park's ecosystem.
Authorities recommend downshifting, even on automatic transmissions, to reduce brake strain on steep roads, as truck fires are often attributed to driver error.