DEATH VALLEY, CALIFORNIA — The National Park Service is urging commercial truck drivers to use caution on State Route 190 through Death Valley National Park after a semi-truck’s brakes overheated and caught fire while descending approximately 5,000 feet from Towne Pass on September 9 — the eighth tractor-trailer fire on that stretch of road in the past three years.
The fire occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. The eastbound driver was able to detach the tractor from the trailer before the tractor became fully engulfed in flames. The trailer was loaded with emulsified asphalt. The driver was not hurt.
The incident adds to a pattern of brake fires on the steep Towne Pass descent that NPS says has become a recurring safety concern. In May 2025, a truck driver was killed in a crash on SR-190 between Stovepipe Wells and Towne Pass in which brake failure was suspected.
“Commercial truck drivers should know about the steep grade well before they reach Towne Pass,” said Abby Wines, deputy superintendent. “Drivers need to determine whether their vehicle and load are appropriate for this route and, if necessary, choose an alternate route.”
NPS is asking commercial drivers to properly maintain their vehicles, use appropriate braking techniques, and understand the demands of the route before entering the park.
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