Several goats were killed in a fire in Joshua Tree Tuesday afternoon. According to County Fire Captain Donnie Viloria, neighbors in the 64000 block of Moonlight Mesa Road smelled smoke about 3:45 p.m. and discovered a travel trailer and surrounding buildings were on fire and called 911. No one was home at the time of the fire. Viloria said the smoke from the fire could be seen 15 miles away. The travel trailer was parked in the back of an occupied home, but an intense attack by firefighters kept the fire in check, although the radiant heat damaged the outside of the home. As crews began to gain control of the fire, they discovered that seven goats penned up between one of the buildings and the travel trailer had died due to extreme heat and smoke. However, additional goats on the property were saved as firefighters rallied to protect them with an aggressive attack. Viloria said it took nine firefighters 15 minutes to put out the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The total loss is estimated at $10,000.
