Death Valley National Park is so hot that cars keep catching on fire
Cars, not heat, are the biggest problem in the deadly park
By Farley Elliott, SoCal Bureau Chief
Somewhere around Towne Pass, elevation 4,956 feet, the tractor trailer’s brakes started to squeal and sputter. Descending through Death Valley National Park in the predawn hours, the big rig — with cargo in tow from somewhere deep in Nevada — struggled to slow down. Then, the cab began to heat up.
By first light on June 19, the 18-wheeler was toast, having succumbed to the heat and inevitable flames from overheated brakes while trying to maneuver through the hottest place on Earth. The tractor portion of the rolling beast was burned beyond recognition, its engine block seemingly melted solid. The white cargo trailer had, smartly, been disconnected by then. It sat on the rocky desert shoulder, waiting for a ride. Hopefully this one wouldn’t burn to a crisp, too.