A weekend getaway to Joshua Tree National Park took an unexpected turn Sunday, Oct. 12, when a vegetation fire broke out at the park’s popular Black Rock Campground, forcing weekend campers to evacuate as wildfire spread through the area. The Joshua Tree RV campground closed soon after, as fire crews worked to contain the flames and protect nearby parklands.
Crews stretched thin as Joshua Tree RV campground closed by fire
By early afternoon, Cal Fire’s San Bernardino unit said the blaze had burned roughly 66 acres. Fire crews quickly surrounded the area with flame retardant. By about 1:30 p.m., they had stopped the forward spread and achieved 25% containment. Officials have not announced the cause of the fire.
San Bernardino County Fire crews are assisting Joshua Tree National Park staff and the Bureau of Land Management in managing the flames. Both federal agencies are operating with reduced staffing during the ongoing government shutdown, which has made it harder to share regular updates or respond to media requests.
Campground shutdown closes nearly 100 sites
Black Rock Campground sits in the park’s northwest corner near Yucca Valley and is a favorite base camp for RVers exploring Joshua Tree. The campground offers 99 sites for tents and RVs. There are also picnic areas, restrooms, drinking water, a dump station, and even a separate area for horse camping. Fire officials are keeping it closed to the public until they declare it safe to reopen.
No injuries or damage to RVs or park structures have been reported, and firefighters say flame retardant lines are holding. Visitors are urged to steer clear of the area, avoid smoke-affected roads, and watch official updates for reopening news.
Source: The Desert Sun
RELATED
- Camp for free in stunning parks—Joshua Tree and Death Valley need RVing hosts
- Clean energy production will require loss of thousands of Joshua trees
- Help the National Park Service by volunteering your time
- National parks face devastating cuts, with majority in jeopardy
- Camp host duties and what to expect
RVT1231b
