Wildfire burns Joshua trees in area considered a ‘last refuge’ for the species
- Share via
A fire ignited in the Covington Flats area of Joshua Tree National Park on Friday afternoon and burned 175 acres and several Joshua trees in a region that experts say is critical to the species’ future in a warming climate.
Donovan Smith, a spokesperson for the national park, confirmed that multiple Joshua trees had burned, but said there is no official damage count yet. Given the area of the fire, several species of desert plants have likely burned, he said.
San Bernardino County Fire officials said no structures are threatened.
The Silver fire in Inyo County was 47% contained Monday evening. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home of the world’s oldest trees, is threatened by the blaze, authorities say.
The Covington Flats region — located in a northwestern section of the park — is known as a “climate refugia” sitting at a slightly higher elevation, which brings cooler temperatures and more rainfall. These slight differences could be enough, experts say, to allow Joshua trees to continue to survive and reproduce even under a hotter, drier climate that is expected in the coming decades.
“This area is important for the long-term survival of the Joshua trees,” park spokesperson Meg Rockwell said. “It’s that last refuge.”
The iconic trees are not adapted to wildfire, meaning any fire damage can be devastating to the population.
The Eureka fire was reported around noon and was 40% contained as of 6:30 p.m. Friday. The park reported temperatures Friday around 85 degrees with wind gusts up to about 20 mph in the area. Rockwell said additional fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County had been called in to assist with the firefight.
Last year’s York fire has sparked discussion about how to deal with conflagrations in the Mojave National Preserve.
The Joshua tree is cherished for its distinctive silhouette and singular role as a linchpin of the Mojave Desert ecosystem. Yet the iconic succulent is losing suitable habitat at a brisk clip due to climate change, worsening wildfires and development, scientists and environmental advocates say.
While the Joshua tree is currently ubiquitous, climate models show there won’t be much suitable habitat left by the end of the century. That’s why protecting areas like Covington Flats is so important, Rockwell said.
But, experts have also found that many of these cooler, higher-elevation areas — that are more hospitable for Joshua trees — are also susceptible to wildfires because they tend to have denser vegetation. Two large wildfires have killed an estimated 1.8 million Joshua trees in and around the Mojave National Preserve since 2020.
Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta Road will be closed to the public as crews work to contain the fire. Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash, and Juniper; the California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock; and the Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Blvd will also be off limits, according to the National Park Service.
Times staff writers Alex Wigglesworth and Clara Harter contributed to this report.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” Kate Cagle explores the aftermath of L.A.’s recent wildfires, examining systemic failures and innovative recovery efforts while sharing inspiring stories of community resilience in the face of climate change.
On this week’s bonus, Madison McGhee and Jake Deptula share some of their more controversial takes on today’s true crime beat.
In this episode, Sammy Roth speaks with geography professor James McCarthy, who’s studied how authoritarianism and environmental destruction can be deeply intertwined.
