Updated: Fire at YVHS Graduation sparks questions about fireworks during high winds
From the writer and editor: A previous version of this story included a photo of a long-dead Western Joshua Tree that had fallen previous to the fire and was still exhibiting “hot spots.” This tree has been dead for years and was not due to the fire. To clarify further, I went back to the site and took photos of some of the damage to native flora — including Western Joshua Trees — along with some photos to help illustrate the amount of invasive weeds that are on the lot. If the previous version of this story caused any confusion or mischaracterized the photos, we hope that the updated story adds some additional clarification. -Robert Haydon
Fireworks and a five-acre fire marked the end of Yucca Valley High School’s commencement celebration on Friday night. At around 8:20 p.m., fireworks were launched to mark the end of graduation ceremonies at the high school which is located at 7600 Sage Avenue in Yucca Valley.
Shortly after the fireworks display, grass and other vegetation north of Trojan Field caught fire, throwing smoke and flames into the air that was visible from Twentynine Palms Highway (HWY 62). Witnesses described a “fireworks malfunction” and “a rocket malfunction” and videos of the fireworks show some of the explosions detonating closer to the ground than what you may expect at other typical fireworks displays.
Winds on Friday night were blowing to the north from 10 to 15 miles per hour with large gusts distributing the smoke toward the east end of Yucca Valley and across the highway.
Forward progress stopped at five acres
Five engines from the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived on scene and began battling the brush fire which was initially reported as a half-acre in “light flashy-fuels.” A dozer was also reportedly added to the assignment.
At 10:04 p.m. San Bernardino County Fire reported that forward progress on the fire had been stopped at around five acres. They also received assistance from CalFire’s San Bernardino Unit, according to a post on their X account. They say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
YUCCA VALLEY: #SBCoFD is on-scene of a VEGETATION FIRE on the 7600 block of Sage Ave. Medic Engine 41 reporting half acre in light-flashy fuels, with a slow rate of spread. Battalion Chief 137 assuming #YuccaValleyIC. Five additional engines and one dozer added to the assignment.
— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) June 6, 2026
No buildings were burned and there were no reported injuries from the fire.
We’ve reached out to the Morongo Unified School District for more information about the fire and the fireworks celebration.
Yucca Valley hasn’t had a great track record with fireworks celebrations lately. During the town’s Fourth of July celebration in 2025, the fireworks were delayed for over two hours due to operator error.
It’s currently unknown who the operator of last night’s fireworks display was and who was responsible for giving the go-ahead for the fireworks celebration. It is currently unknown whether the fireworks display is contracted through the town or through the Morongo Unified School District. We’ve reached out to the town and school district for clarification.
There were no official red-flag warnings last night, which is a warning system used by the National Weather Service that limits things like campfires and open flames. Personal fireworks are always prohibited in the Morongo Basin.
Native plants burned amongst dry invasive grass
The field just north of Trojan Field is mostly open desert with a few access roads and washes running north-south through the lot. Along with native plants like desert trumpet, cholla cactus, creosote, yucca and desert buckwheat, the lot has around 50 to 60 Western Joshua Trees, mostly contained in the southwest corner of the fire’s damage scar.
Larger Joshua Trees that were closer to the south end of the fire escaped without any damage, while younger trees further North on the lot had evidence of flame damage as far as fourteen feet high.
The lot is also full of dried-out invasive grasses and weeds, which quickly spreads fire in winds like the 10 to 15 mile-per-hour winds that were blowing on Friday. A walk around the lot shows evidence of the flames quickly spreading, jumping over large swathes of dried grass and natural fire breaks like small washes. Invasive grass quickly dries out after blooming in spring and without manual removal it can sit for months waiting for a spark to ignite and spread.
This is still a developing story and we will update you with more information as we receive it from the MUSD and the Town of Yucca Valley.
