JOSHUA TREE FIRE INSIDE THE NATIONAL PARK CALLED SUSPICIOUS

Monday afternoon, Twentynine Palms firefighters went bouldering in Joshua Tree National Park as they responded to a fire about a half mile up Rattlesnake Canyon. According to Fire Captain Robert Marquez, firefighters were called at 12:19 for a Joshua tree fire. Marquez said firefighters had to scramble over rocks carrying hand tools and portable water tanks on their backs to reach the burning tree. Other hikers saw the smoke from the blaze and tried to put out the fire with sand and dirt, but the tree burned to the ground. Marquez said the cause of the fire is unknown, but is classified as suspicious.