DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – A recent fire at the remote Saline Valley Warm Springs Campground was accidentally started when a propane grill ignited a palm tree, according to investigators with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The fire, which burned in the Lower Springs area of the campground, is now fully contained, and more than half of the site has reopened to visitors.
Despite the containment, the immediate burn area remains closed due to lingering hot spots and hazardous materials. National Park Service (NPS) staff are actively monitoring the area and assessing the damage to park infrastructure, as well as natural and cultural resources. Park officials emphasize that visitor safety is the paramount concern during this recovery period.
Superintendent Mike Reynolds affirmed the park's commitment to visitor well-being. "The safety of park visitors is our top priority," Reynolds said. He noted that residual heat and hazardous materials persist in the burned zone, and expressed appreciation for public patience as the park moves into cleanup and recovery efforts. Visitors are reminded not to enter the closed area or attempt to repair or replace any infrastructure damaged by the fire.
Areas now accessible to the public include Palm Spring, the camping area situated between Lower Spring and Palm Spring, and the double-vault toilet located at Lower Spring. These reopenings mark a significant step towards full restoration following the incident.
In mid-October, a post-fire recovery team from the Department of the Interior (DOI) is scheduled to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the burned area. This team will evaluate damaged and destroyed NPS infrastructure, the impacts on both natural and cultural resources, and identify any remaining safety hazards. Among the specific concerns to be addressed is a large bank of partially burned batteries within the affected zone. The removal of debris and other hazardous materials is anticipated to begin in early winter.
The fire has not prompted any changes to the National Park Service’s established management plan for California fan palms at Saline Valley Warm Springs. Under the current plan, existing mature palms are permitted to remain for their natural lifespan. When these palms eventually die, they are removed and subsequently replaced with native vegetation. The policy prohibits the establishment of new California fan palms, as the species is not native to Death Valley National Park and is considered invasive within its ecosystem.
Park staff have observed that many of the palms affected by the fire still display green fronds, indicating a strong likelihood of survival. Even some palms that appear severely burned are expected to produce new fronds in the coming months. The NPS will continue to monitor all affected palms and will only remove those definitively determined to be dead, in line with the long-standing management plan for the area.
