A hiker’s lit toilet paper sparked a wildfire that burned 72 acres in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. The fire, which broke out October 12, destroyed more than 1,000 of the park’s iconic trees.
The Black Rock Fire, which began south of Black Rock Campground during the government shutdown, hit one of the park’s densest Joshua tree woodlands. This is a higher-elevation area considered a vital climate refuge for the species.
Park firefighters reported that the blaze started when a visitor lit their toilet paper on fire. One firefighter described the event as a “totally avoidable tragedy,” noting that rangers who usually educate visitors on fire safety were furloughed during the shutdown.
The affected area is critical for the long-term survival of Joshua trees. Experts expect these trees to thrive here for the next century, even as other areas in the park grow too dry or hot. Brendan Cummings, conservation director for the Center for Biological Diversity, surveyed the burned woodland and confirmed the loss of more than a thousand trees. Despite the devastation, a few trees may survive.
Restoration? Not likely, says Park Service
Restoration efforts face ongoing challenges. Staffing shortages have reduced the park’s resources division, limiting the ability to protect and restore sensitive habitats. “So we’re going to have to do less. We can’t do as much to save the trees,” said the firefighter.
The National Park Service said the scale of the fire does not justify large-scale restoration. It wrote that “the superintendent must balance multiple resource management priorities across more than 790,000 acres.”
Joshua trees are protected under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The park has also partnered with the Mojave Desert Land Trust to plant native species, including Joshua trees, across its lands.
Even in a desert, small sparks can have outsized consequences. In this case, a seemingly minor “toilet paper experiment” left a lasting mark on one of the park’s most cherished landscapes.
Sources include The Travel, SF Gate, The Center for Western Priorities
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RVT1237b
Yet another sad incident that begs the question: What is wrong with some people?
They are mostly city folk who don’t know there head from their you know what. You know, those “sheeple” that have to have someone tell them to don’t forget to breathe!!
This proves our education system has failed us.
Stupid is as Stupid does!
The lack of rangers had absolutely nothing to do with this fire! The problem is common sense! Of which is not so common!
Did you not read this in the article: “Park firefighters reported that the blaze started when a visitor lit their toilet paper on fire. One firefighter described the event as a “totally avoidable tragedy,” noting that rangers who usually educate visitors on fire safety were furloughed during the shutdown.”
what Ken said! read it yourself
This is why Russ & Tina submitted this article. BAU.
so, did they identify the person?
If only the rangers weren’t on furlough to inform people that lighting toilet paper on fire is a dumb thing to do…..
/s
Out of the hundreds of times I have interacted with park rangers and forest service employees, I have never had a single one tell me not to burn my TP. Do they tell you to watch where your toes are so you don’t trip on a rock and fall down????
Please note the “/s” that signifies sarcasm…..
More info
Thanks, Vince! I had never heard of “tone indicators” before. Interesting. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
That happens up on the north shore of Lake Chelan in WA. A doctor read in a hiking book it was better to burn your TP rather than burying it. So, he did and ended up starting a forest fire that burned thousands of acres.