Latest news with #JoshuaTreeNationalPark
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Joshua Tree fire: Eureka Fire at popular national park is 65% contained, officials say
The Eureka Fire blazing at Joshua Tree National Park has reached 65% containment as of 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 2, officials said. The brush fire was reported around noon on Friday, May 30, in the Covington Flats area, the National Park Service said, producing smoke plumes visible for miles. The fire is at 214 acres and 65% containment as of 11 a.m., according to Joshua Tree National Park's update. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Crews continued to battle the fire during the weekend, and the fire withstood 'strong winds' from 8 to 10 p.m. on May 31, according to the national park. Here are the temporary closures in place as fire containment remains active: Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta within Joshua Tree National Park's boundary; Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash, and Juniper; California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock; Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Boulevard in Joshua Tree National Park. The national park saw over 2.9 million visitors last year, according to the National Park Service's statistics. The figure isn't too far off from the 3.2 million attendees Glacier National Park in Montana recorded last year. The park was the 10th most visited national park in America last year, USA TODAY reported. Air quality in parts of the Coachella Valley is largely good or moderate as of the late morning of Sunday, June 1, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District's hourly air quality map. Good on the Air Quality Index means that 'air pollution poses little or no risk,' while moderate means that while air quality is acceptable, some people may be at risk, particularly those who are 'unusually sensitive to air pollution.' Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Joshua Tree National Park fire is 65% contained; See road closures
CBS News
5 days ago
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- CBS News
Firefighters continue battling Eureka Fire burning in Joshua Tree National Park
Firefighters are still battling the Eureka Fire, which is burning in Joshua Tree National Park. The blaze was first reported on Friday just before noon in the Covington Flats area near Carmelita Place in Yucca Valley, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, who are assisting the National Park Service. Flames quickly spread throughout the day, engulfing 175 acres by the end of Friday. As of Saturday night the fire is said to have burned 212 acres and is 40% contained, according to Joshua Tree NPS. Along with crews battling the flames on foot, there were 11 engines, two water tenders, two hand crews and one helicopter assisting on Saturday. Several areas are closed due to the ongoing firefight, including: Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta inside of Joshua Tree National Park, Backcountry camping in zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash and Juniper, California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock, Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off of Park Boulevard. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There are no reports of injury or structural damage.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Eureka Fire: Several roads closed in Joshua Tree National Park due to wildfire
A brush fire that broke out on Friday in Joshua Tree National Park has grown to over 200 acres, resulting in several road closures as firefighters work to contain the blaze over the weekend. The Eureka Fire, reported around noon on Friday, is located 3 miles northeast of Eureka Peak in the Lower Covington Flats area. Firefighters had the 212-acre fire 40% contained as of Saturday morning, the park said in a news release. Areas that are temporarily closed while firefighters work to contain the fire: Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta within the park boundary; Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash and Juniper, California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock; Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Boulevard. Several agencies are responding and worked overnight to manage the blaze, including the Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, and San Bernardino County Sheriff and Fire Protection. Firefighters contained a 4-acre slop over fire, which refers to a fire that crossed the containment line, in the morning, the park said. The park said fresh crews will be working on containing the fire during the day, which will be warmer at nearly 86 degrees with 5 to 10 miles per hour south-southwest winds and gusts up to 20 mph. The equipment they'll be using include 11 engines, two water tenders two hand crews, and one helicopter. Joshua Tree National Park said it does not know what caused the fire to break out and that it will be under investigation. This is a developing story. Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Eureka Fire updates: Joshua Tree National Park road closures, size
