Big rig brake fire on steep grade leads police to driver’s suspended license, National Park Service says

The Death Valley National Park Service (NPS) is reminding truckers about the dangers of steep grades after a major vehicle fire due to overheated brakes.

The vehicle fire occurred on December 29, 2024, in Death Valley National Park in California.

According to NPS, the brakes of a tractor trailer overheated during the descent from Towne Pass on California State Route 190 (CA-190), which is nearly 5000 vertical feet. Images shared by NPS show that the truck was hauling heavy equipment.

Officials say that the truck driver was cited for operating with a suspended license.

“This was the eighth vehicle fire this year in Death Valley National Park, and the sixth fire due to overheated brakes,” said Mike Reynolds, Superintendent of Death Valley National Park. “We want to remind drivers of heavy vehicles to down-shift on steep grades and consider pulling over to allow their brakes to cool down.”

NPS says that commercial trucks are prohibited on other roadways in Death Valley National Park, and they are “not advised on CA-190 due to steep grades.”

See below for more on other truck fires that have occurred in Death Valley National Park this year due to steep grades and overheated brakes.

January 10, 2024

A semi-truck hauling bottled water caught on fire within Death Valley National Park while descending CA-190 eastbound from Towne Pass.

April 26, 2024

A truck’s engine and brakes caught on fire in Death Valley National Park while the vehicle was descending 5000 vertical feet from Towne Pass on CA-190. The truck was hauling hazardous waste.

July 15, 2024

A stake-bed truck caught fire (likely due to overheated brakes, NPS says) while descending Towne Pass, with air temperatures around 120°F.

August 15, 2024

A soft drink delivery truck burned to the ground on CA-190 near Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, likely due to overheated brakes.

November 21, 2024

A tractor-trailer carrying 44,000 pounds of dried chickpeas burned up in Death Valley National Park. NPS says that the truck’s brakes overheated descending Daylight Pass and Mud Canyon Road, and the driver pulled over after reaching flat terrain on CA-190.