Fire Scorches 1K Joshua Trees in ‘Avoidable Tragedy’

During the recent federal government shutdown, a fire in Joshua Tree National Park destroyed more than a thousand of the park’s iconic trees, raising alarm about the species’ survival amid climate change and staffing shortages. The 72-acre blaze, which ignited when a visitor set toilet paper on fire, swept through one of the park’s densest Joshua tree woodlands—an area seen as a climate refuge as lower elevations become increasingly inhospitable, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Cal Fire reported that the fire started on Oct. 12 and was contained eight days later, SFGate reports. Rangers and firefighters, speaking anonymously to the Los Angeles Times due to fear of retaliation, described the damage as a “nightmare scenario” and a “totally avoidable tragedy.” They noted that staff who might have educated visitors on fire safety were furloughed during the shutdown. The park’s resources division, once around 30 employees, is reportedly down to six full-time and one part-time staffer—a decline attributed to retirements and broader cuts under the Trump administration.

Experts say that while 15% to 30% of the burned Joshua trees may resprout, many will not survive without intervention. “Park leadership determined that the scale and impacts of the fire did not warrant a large-scale restoration,” said Elizabeth Peace, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior, citing limited resources and competing priorities. Critics, including the Center for Biological Diversity, argue that without active management—such as replanting and watering—the species may not survive in the park long-term.

Climate change, worsened by invasive grasses, is increasing the frequency of wildfires in the Mojave Desert. Some hope remains: the Mojave Desert Land Trust is growing hundreds of Joshua trees from seed to support future restoration efforts.

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