To Reduce Fire Risk, Restrictions In Place In Joshua Tree National Park For July 4th 2024 Weekend
Public access to the Covington Flats area of Joshua Tree National Park is closed from Wednesday July 3rd 2024 through Sunday July 7th 2024. The area will reopen Monday morning July 8th 2024.
The spring rains caused an abundance of grass to grow, which has now dried, making a continuous bed of fuel for wildfires.
The National Interagency Coordination Center has issued a fuels and fire behavior advisory for the area.
The National Weather Service has issued high heat warnings for the area and fire meteorologists at Southern California Geographic Coordination Center have said the risk of wildfires is high this season.
Expected conditions present an extreme fire danger.
The Geology Fire burned 1,033 acres in Joshua Tree National Park June 2023, impacting Joshua trees and desert tortoise habitat. The Covington Flats area contains most of the important Joshua tree populations within the park. Joshua Tree National Park is currently under fire restrictions until October 1st, 2024.
Over the July 4th holiday weekend, human activity at the Park, increases fire risk. All visitors should practice fire safety:
- Keep campfires small and only within a metal campsite fire ring outside of the park,
- Do not smoke within 10 feet of vegetation, dispose of extinguished cigarette butts properly, and
- Enjoy safe and legal fireworks outside of the park, fireworks are not allowed in the park.
Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It’s characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes.
Photo from Alpha Media Portland OR
