The Morongo Unified School District Board of Education is accepting applications to serve a three-year appointment as a trustee for Area 1 of the District. The appointed individual will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mrs. Karalee Hargrove and will serve the remainder of the term through December, 2026.
School board members are locally elected public officials entrusted with governing a community’s public school to ensure the district is responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of their communities. Boards fulfill this role by performing five major responsibilities: setting direction; establishing an effective and efficient structure; providing support, ensuring accountability, and providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district, and public schools.
This vacancy on the MUSD board is for an Area 1 trustee, whose district covers a majority of Twentynine Palms and part of Wonder Valley, and vacancies such as this offer an opportunity for new voices and fresh perspectives to serve the school district and support a tangible democratic process.
Applications are available online and are due no later than 12:00 p.m., June 6, 2025. Applications will be screened by current board members prior to candidate interviews.
Screening will begin on June 6, 2025 and interviews are tentatively scheduled for June 13, 2025. All applicants must live within the Area 1 district.
Please contact the Superintendent’s office at (760) 367-9191 extension 4221 if you have further questions in regards to completing an application.
A grassroots town hall in Twentynine Palms gathered residents, conservationists, and planners to address a growing concern: how to balance economic development with the preservation of the desert’s fragile ecosystem. The town hall was organized by Indian Cove Neighbors in collaboration with the Morongo Basin Conservation Association (MBCA) to encourage a community-led conversation about balancing economic growth with environmental preservation.
It focused on:
Increasing transparency and accountability in local and county planning processes.
Raising awareness about current and proposed developments, such as the proposed Ofland resort.
Educating residents on tools such as general plans, CEQA, and community action guides.
Encouraging proactive community engagement and organization.
Cindy Bernard, moderator and co-founder of Indian Cove Neighbors, set the tone early by stating, “We’re here to talk about how we balance two needs that are in tension with each other: economic development and environmental preservation.”
A proposed 52-acre resort in Indian Cove has ignited backlash over zoning changes, traffic issues, and a perceived failure to conduct a thorough environmental review.
Rich Good, an Indian Cove resident and owner of a business in Twentynine Palms, said, “If we’re going to grow, let’s do it right. Let’s use existing infrastructure. Let’s protect the quiet, dark, and wild that people come here for.”
Organizers urged the establishment of additional community councils, enhanced watchdog efforts, and perhaps even the reinstatement of the Municipal Advisory Council, which the county disbanded.
The meeting was part education session and part public town hall gathering, sparked by growing community concern over unchecked development projects, including a 52-acre resort proposal by Ofland in Indian Cove.
“We’re not against growth,” said Cat Talley Jones, “But we want growth that respects what’s already here. The desert is not empty; it’s alive.”
That point was made clear by every speaker discussing endangered tortoises, fragile wildlife corridors that connect Joshua Tree National Park to the broader Mojave ecosystem, and the peace that residents cherish.
Former Mojave Desert Land Trust director Geary Hund announced that Caltrans had invited a full grant proposal for two wildlife overpasses on Highway 62. He described it as a potential game-changer for regional habitat connectivity.
Rich Good gave a pointed critique of the Ofland development. “They’re trying to rezone residential land for a 100-cabin resort with dorms, sewage, and parking for 132 cars,” he said. “Our neighborhood will grow by 45% overnight, and we lose what makes this place special—dark skies, quiet, and a sense of belonging.”
The panel included Cindy Bernard, Cat Talley Jones, Pat Flanagan, Laraine Turk from MBCA, and Rich Good. Steve Bardwell, Director of MBCA, was out sick and couldn’t make the event but was instrumental in its conception.
Residents were encouraged to read their city or county’s general plan and understand tools such as CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, and mitigated negative declarations.
“Get a bottle of wine, get your neighbors, and read the plan,” urged MBCA board member Pat Flanagan. “It’s not boring if your home is on the line.”
Flanagan explained how development review processes often sidestep complete environmental studies by issuing abbreviated assessments. “You get to challenge those. You have a right to ask questions.”
Bernard emphasized that undeveloped doesn’t mean unused, and empty doesn’t mean unusable.
Attendees called for:
A development moratorium for projects beyond downtown corridors.
Restoration of the Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) for rural voices.
Fostering stronger connections between cities and unincorporated areas to develop a unified basin-wide strategy.
Investing in the revitalization of existing buildings over carving into untouched land.
Exploring long-term shifts in governance, including the idea of a “Mojave County.”
Caitlin Gill, a recent transplant and astronomy tour guide, reminded the group that while tourism isn’t going away, it’s up to the community to shape how visitors are received.
Other suggestions made during the meeting included:
Moratorium on large developments generating high vehicle traffic outside downtown zones (Jennifer Rendon).
Bring back the MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) to restore local representation (Ray Kennedy, Pat Flanagan, multiple mentions).
Community reading and review parties to make general plan engagement accessible (Pat Flanagan).
Organize neighborhood councils and define proactive visions for each area (Cindy Bernard).
Push back on CEQA shortcuts and mitigate negative declarations. Also demand Environmental Impact Reports (Pat Flanagan, Rich Good).
Form a regional alliance across the Basin rather than relying on isolated town-based efforts (Aaron Gatlin).
Explore forming a new county or pushing for more district-level representation (Atlas, Ray Kennedy).
Model sustainable tourism management after places like Napa and Sedona (Caitlin Gill).
Push San Bernardino County to return TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) to unincorporated communities (Ray Kennedy).
Visual tools, such as zoning maps and STR density overlays, make data more accessible (Laraine Turk).
The audience voiced a desire for more frequent town halls and a formalized follow-up mechanism.
As the meeting closed, a key question emerged: What’s the next step?
Organizer Cindy Bernard acknowledged that this town hall was just the beginning. Plans are already underway for follow-ups, with Desert Trumpet and MBCA offering continued coverage, education, and digital tools, including CEQA guides, sample comment letters, and zoning visualizations.
Mayor Pro Tem Merl Abel of Yucca Valley said he came to the meeting to listen. He noted that although many are eager to bring development to this area, the Yucca Valley Town Council is focused on guiding that growth in a way that respects the environment and serves the community.
Morongo Unified School District’s graduation season is upon us this week for our local student’s 2024-25 school year.
For Twentynine Palms High School, graduation night is this Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. on campus at the football field, led by valedictorian Amiel Escoba who will speak on behalf of his classmates.
For Yucca Valley High School, graduation night is this Thursday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. on campus at the football field, led by valedictorian Jaden Cadwising who will speak on behalf of his classmates.
The 29 Palms Rotary Club continues its program of honoring outstanding students and teachers from our local schools. Under the leadership of Youth Services Chairman John Cole, the ongoing award presentations are part of the service club’s commitment to support and honor education.
At their meeting on May 28, 2025, honorees from Palm Vista Elementary and Twentynine Palms High Schools were feted. The Rotary Club awards a distinctive certificate and a gift card.
For Palm Vista Elementary, Principal Dr. Claudette Onumah introduced their teacher of the year, Tracy Campese, saying, “Tracy started out at Palm Vista as a sub but quickly advanced into a classroom as a full-time teacher. She has a unique way of motivating kids to success and is working to bring more sports to the school.”
For Palm Vista student of the year, Onumah introduced Godus Bernard, saying, “Godus is the type of student that says nothing can stop me! In addition to her positive attitude, she excels in her reading skills.”
For Twentynine Palms High School, principal Mike Ruggiero had high praise for his teacher of the year, Jean Caravella. “Jean makes Twentynine Palms High School a very special place”, he said. “Jean was a huge part of bringing a program to the school where kids can get college credits while taking high school classes and serves as our dual-enrollment liaison with Copper Mountain College. She teaches advanced placement classes and has cut the failure rate in some math classes by 50%.”
Caravella accepted the award, giving credit to the community, “I have taught in New York and Florida, and I am happier here because of the close-knit community and their support.”
The 29 Palms Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and leaders who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs. Founded in 1948, the Twentynine Palms Club is the oldest service club in the Morongo Basin. They meet Wednesdays at noon at the Little Church of the Desert Meeting Hall. More information is available at www.rotary29.org.
Go Skate Day is coming up on Saturday, June 21st, and the Twentynine Palms skate community behind the annual tradition is accepting donations for the event.
Formerly known as Aaron and Paul’s Go Skate Day event, now the crew has united under the name SKATE 29, with a new skate shop serving as a meeting spot and general headquarters for the Twentynine Palms skate community.
The full details are still being run through for the Go Skate Day, but this year you can expect a full range of best trick battles, and friendly skateboard competition. Kids and adults of all skill levels are invited to come out and enjoy the blissful feeling of a board under your feet on a warm desert evening.
The event is sponsored by the City of Twentynine Palms and is free for everyone and the organizers say that donations of water, snacks and raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated.
You can swing by Escapade Skate in Twentynine Palms, they are located in the back of White Label Vinyl in Corner 62 – Dann would be happy to talk to you about skateboarding and accept some donations for the event. If he’s out, Steve at White Label can help too. Water bottles, sports drinks, individually wrapped snacks, or raffle prizes from your local business are all on the donation want list, and you can always reach out to the organizers to see if there is anything they specifically need.
If you want to donate but can’t make it out to Twentynine Palms, you can always skate by the Z107.7 offices here in Joshua Tree and drop it off and we’ll make sure if gets out to the crew.
The Joshua Basin Water District Board of Directors meets in regular session Wednesday afternoon (June 4) to budgeting issues through 2026. The Board will also receive a presentation plan about their employee compensation, and hold a public hearing on increasing pay for Board Directors.
The Joshua Basin Water District Board meets Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at 61750 Chollita Road in Joshua Tree.
On May 29, Herman Orozcoguardia was arrested in Los Angeles County. Z107.7 has reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Corrections for information on this arrest. Orozco was found to have an active warrant in San Bernardino Count for charges related to the contact and sexual assault of a minor in the Morongo Basin. The charges say that Orozcoguradia assaulted a male under the age of 18 with the intent to rape on October 23, 2024. Orozcoguardia is a registered sex offender and was convicted on sexual assault charges related to child under the age of 14.
On Friday, Orozcoguardia was arraigned in San Bernardino County Superior Court on charges related to contacting and sexually assaulting a minor, to which he pled not guilty. He is also facing enhancements related to his prior violent felony convictions.
He is currently being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $430,000 bail. Supervising Deputy District Attorney Douglas Poston said, “due to his prior “super strikes” (violent sex crimes) he faces a potential term of 25 to life in prison.”
The Yucca Valley Town Council meeting will begin with a presentation of the draft Operational Review of the Town’s Animal Shelter. Town Staff announced that the Shelter would undergo a 90-day review at their meeting on March 4, following an increase in public concern about shelter practices. Staff has prepared a list of recommendations to improve shelter operations, including the establishment of a standing committee for Animal Care and Control, with two Council members to serve on it. Staff also recommends that the Town creates proposed budget amendments to implement immediate recommendations, including implementing new software for shelter services, utilizing local media, and creating foster and volunteer programs.
The Council will then review the Town’s Volunteer Program and Guidelines Policy revisions as it pertains to the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter and other Town opportunities. Town Staff conducted a review of similar initiatives from other municipalities and found the use of age requirements and background checks are similar to standards for other shelter programs.
Lastly, the Council will review the recommendation by the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Commission to determine a new name for the Town facility referred to as the Old Town Beautification and Sustainability Project, located on Elk Trail between Twentynine Palms Highway and Yucca Trail. The PRCC put forward the suggestion “Founder’s Plaza at Old Town” for the Council’s approval.
Tomorrow night’s meeting is open to the public and begins at 5 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center.
At the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission meeting tomorrow afternoon, there will be a Public Hearing on declaring the property located at 7291 Woodward Avenue a public nuisance and dangerous building.
This property is on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Baseline Road, east of Utah Trail, and is a dangerous, burned structure full of trash and debris, as well as inoperable vehicles. The structure is dilapidated and damaged due to a fire caused by squatters, and the property has also become an illegal trash dumping site. The location is unsecured, vandalized and by all outward observations, is a blighted and abandoned property without any control or oversight being exercised by the property owner. The Commissioners will consider declaring this property a public nuisance and dangerous building.
There will be a workshop on pet grooming and dog walking as home occupations. Community Development Staff has received several requests recently for home occupation permits that do not fit within the current operating standards. In particular, requests have come in regarding pet grooming and dog walking services out of a residential home. These types of activities appear to be contrary to the Animal Control and Home Occupation sections of the Development Code. Staff is requesting direction as to whether those types of home occupations should be revisited.
Located at 6136 Adobe Road in Twentynine Palms, the Planning Commission meeting begins at 5pm tomorrow, Tuesday June 3rd. As always the Public is welcome to attend.
The Cactus Sew-ables Quilt Guild will meet Monday (June 2) at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with the meeting coming to order at 1:00 p.m. The theme for the meeting is ”Patriotic Picnic” honoring the military and their many sacrifices. The speaker will be Betty Leone who will discuss the history of the Organization of “Quilts of Valor.”
Wear patriotic colors. Guests are welcome, $3.00 at the door.
Time Trials: A Dragstrip Requiem is a new documentary by local filmmaker Cole Coonce that chronicles the extraordinary life and career of drag racing legend Mendy Fry, screens for free at Mojave Gold tonight, Sunday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m.
When relaying her professional career, drag racing legend Mendy Fry says she was a “teenage sensation,” her tone playfully tongue-in-cheek. Yet Fry continued explaining how drag racing is a serious, even dangerous business. The cars run on nitromethane, an explosive fuel propelling the driver to speeds and combustion that often ignite a vehicle into a searing blacktop comet.
Beginning her thirty-two-year career at age fifteen, Fry entered the male-dominated sport as the only woman in the Front Engine Top Fuel class, becoming the first woman to break speeds of 250 mph. Yet there is no female division in Top Fuel, Fry reminded Z1077:
“There’s no female division because it would be…empty.”
To this day, Fry still holds the world record for the quickest elapsed time in the AA/Fuel Dragster class: a quarter mile in 5.49 seconds.
Fry says her father, a car and engine builder, “wanted a son but got a daughter instead,” so she was raised in the sport whether she wanted it or not. But Fry wanted it, and by the time she started driving, she was surrounded with support despite racing’s “fairly misogynist environment.”
“I think that I probably got very desensitized to that. Whatever comments would come my way, I’d just kind of let them roll off my back… The thing is, that’s just the novelty, right? Like you actually have to get in and compete at the level that everybody else is competing, so nobody really cares what your gender is,” said Fry.
On her skill and ambition alone, Fry continued to dominate the sport until taking a six-year break half-way through her career.
In 1997, drag racing writer/photographer Cole Coonce was already a fan of Fry before meeting her at a Bakersfield race’s press section. Struggling to maintain his journalistic integrity, he was smitten with Fry, and the two soon became an item, and later, married.
Sixteen years after Fry returned to racing, Coonce put together a film crew to document her leading the national circuit. Coonce said, “As she dominated and then her car owner unfortunately passed, I showed the footage to a film distributor I knew and he said, ‘You’ve got a movie here.’”
Five years later, the result is Time Trials: A Drag Strip Requiem, a feature-length documentary chronicling Fry’s highs and lows during her decades of shattering speed records and gender barriers.
“This is really a movie about transcending one’s circumstances which I think is a universal theme and that’s what our protagonist ultimately did¾not once, but twice, really¾you can transcend your circumstances and then you still get set back, but that was a big part of what made me want to stick to this film and finish it because I felt it was a story worth telling,” said Coonce
Despite the close quarters of their marriage, Fry didn’t consult on the film at all and wouldn’t even allow herself to see the footage until the final product, which she says has been an emotional experience.
“Watching the film has been one of the most truly vulnerable times I’ve had in my life. I need to watch it a couple more times before we go see it with all these people in the room because like, I have to stop crying. And also, I can’t imagine what it’s been like for Cole! He’s been out in his studio working you know 10, 12-hour days (editing the film), and when he comes back in the house and he’s like, ‘Oh you again… I’ve been looking at you for twelve hours!” said Fry.
“There are worse fates,” added Coonce.
Time Trials: A Dragstrip Requiem screens tonight (Sunday, June 1) at Mojave Gold in Yucca Valley. Admission is free and open to the public.
If you walk around the hi-desert, you’re likely to see some big hats. And Saturday night (May 31) there’s going to be a whole new batch of hats hitting Landers. New Orleans based artist Oliver Manhattan is bringing her hats to the hi-desert for what organizers are calling a “Hat Show and Party.” Jef Harmatz sat down with organizer Ali Miyares for a conversation about haberdashery.
Ali: “Our good friend, New Orleans’ favorite milliner, which is a hat maker, has come to the high desert with 10 to 20 epic hats for sale. You know, it would be almost wrong to say they’re party hats because they’re more than that. They’re hats for any fabulous occasion. Brimmed hats with feathers, ruffles, paintbrushes sometimes. All the hats are for sale. So show up with no hat and you might leave with one or two.
“The hat party is inside of Al’s Metal Shop, which is an awesome quonset hut turned metal shop. We’re gonna have a show inside and cocktails for free and food from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 1142 Yucca Mesa Road, Landers, California. Come ready to have a good time. It’s gonna be fun.”
Update 6/1/25 2:00pm: The Eureka Fire in Joshua Tree National Park is now at 214 acres and is 65% contained. Fire crews worked overnight and successfully held the line, despite strong winds between 8 and 10 pm. Officials say control efforts are progressing well with firefighters securing lines extending 50 to 100 feet from the line in most areas. Closures remain in effect for parts of the park The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Update 5/31/25 9:00 a.m: Joshua Tree National Park has issued an update on the overnight fire progress:
The ongoing response to the Eureka Fire in Joshua Tree National Park had crews working through the night on containment lines. There was a slop over fire on the southeast side of the line early this morning. Crews quickly contained the 4 acres. The fire is at 212 acres and 40% containment as of 9:00am.
Fresh crews will continue to work through the day. The weather will be warmer with temperatures near 86. South southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph are expected.
Equipment assigned to the fire includes 11 engines, 2 water tenders, 2 hand crews, and 1 helicopter for the day shift. Crews from Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, San Bernardino County Sheriffs and Fire Protection continue to assist.
The cause of the Eureka Fire is currently unknown and under investigation.
There are temporary closures within the affected areas of the park while fire containment remains active:
Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta within the Park boundary. Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash, and Juniper. California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Blvd in the park.
A fire broke out in Joshua Tree National Park yesterday but as of 6AM on Saturday it’s been contained at 40% with at an estimated 175 acres affected.
At around 12:00 p.m. on Friday a fire was reported in the Covington Flats area of Joshua Tree National Park. At the time of the report the fire was around 20 acres, with winds forecast to be 10 to 20 miles per hour in the afternoon, and temperatures in the area in the low to mid 80’s.
A little over an hour later the fire had grown rapidly to around 165 acres and a column of dirty white smoke could be seen rising from the ridge behind Joshua Tree neighborhoods that border the park. Inside the park, initial reports of the fire’s point of origin was approximately 900 feet from lower covington flats road, near Nolina Peak in the Covington Flats area. 65 personnel had responded to the scene and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and San Bernardino County fire resources called in to help with the containment.
Fire retardant lines used to contain fire growth
By 1:45 p.m. it was reported that a Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) was called in from Riverside to lay down lines of fire retardant. The VLAT joined 5 other rotating air units, along with ground and air units from CALFIRE, San Bernardino County Sheriffs and Fire Protection, the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service.
The U.S. Forest Service is the agency responsible for the VLAT firefighting planes, which are modified DC-10’s that can hold and deliver upwards of 8000 gallons of fire retardant. The giant tankers need to be at least 250 above the vegetation to be effective. From the ground on the Nancy Karl trail just a few miles north of the fire, the tankers could be spotted making loops through the smoke, occasionally appearing above the ridge as they swept large circles and set up containment lines.
Photos from the Joshua Tree National Park’s Instagram show parts of Covington Flats with visible scorching on the ground and around the Western Joshua Trees in the area, with a hot pinkish-orange stripe where the tankers had laid down the fire retardant.
The substance dropped by these VLATS is called Phos-Chek, and gets its bright color from the iron-oxide found in the mixture. According to Perimeter Solutions which is the the company that makes the product, Phos-Chek contains common agricultural and household fertilizer ingredients and may impact more delicate plants, but the fire retardant can be rinsed off with water and the hot pink color fades into earth tones within a few days.
About the Covington Flats area inside Joshua Tree National Park
The Covington Flats area has some of the park’s largest Joshua trees, junipers, and pinyon pines. It’s located between Black Rock Canyon and Joshua Tree and is accessible from Yucca Valley through La Contenta Road off Highway 62, or from inside the park along Covington Flats Road. The area is a few miles north of Eureka Peak.
Our source inside the national park says that fighting a fire in the Covington Flats area is a complex situation as crews have to balance the methods they are using to fight the fire because of the old growth Joshua Trees and other delicate vegetation in the area. The air and ground crews are being tasked with stopping the fire’s spread while simultaneously trying not to harm or kill the very trees and plants they are fighting to save.
From the ground, the column of smoke had become more dispersed by 2:00 p.m. and some of that smoke had started to settle into the Friendly Hills neighborhood in Joshua Tree, where the MDLT-maintained Nancy Karl trail runs east/west just on the other side of the ridge where the fire was burning. A helicopter could be heard making an announcement, but from the ground on the Nancy Karl trail the message couldn’t be heard clearly enough to decipher it. The area is a popular backcountry camping and hiking spot.
At around 2:45 p.m. helicopters were seen filling up water buckets in the pond at Hawk’s Landing Golf Club in Yucca Valley, located approximately 8 miles to the northwest of the fire.
By 3:30 p.m. Joshua Tree National Park had confirmed the fire was still around 165 acres but it was holding at that number, contained within the pinkish orange lines that the VLATs had laid down. As the giant tankers and other planes left the smokey area, helicopter units could still be heard and seen hovering in the park and by adjacent neighborhoods. It was reported but unconfirmed that one of the tanker planes was diverted to the Frazier Fire whic is burning nearly 100 acres in the Los Padres National Forest approximately 200 miles northwest of Joshua Tree.
As ground crews continued to work on the fire, Joshua Tree National Park released an update at 6:30 p.m. last night saying the fire was officially reported at 175 acres, and crews would work overnight to continue to fight the fire and work toward more containment which was at 40% at the time of the report.
Park Closures impacted by the Eureka Fire
As of 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, the Park had not yet issued an update on the size of the fire though updates are expected as the day progresses. From the ground in the Joshua Tree neighborhood located about 3 miles south of the fire, no visible smoke could be seen.
According to the National Weather Service, it is expected to warm up to the 90’s in Joshua Tree, with south winds from 5 to 15 mph.
The cause of the Eureka Fire is currently unknown and will be under investigation, according to the National Park. The park also announced temporary closures within the affected areas of the park while fire containment efforts remain active:
Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta Road inside the park will be closed.
Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash, and Juniper are also shut down.
California Riding and Hiking Trails starting in Black Rock, and the Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Blvd inside the park will also be closed.
Our source inside the park says that while the official reported size is still 175 acres, there are estimates that the affected area could be closer to 290 acres. However, they say that National Park officials are holding off on a higher official number until it can be confirmed.
Z107.7 will continue to update this story on air and online as we receive more information on the Eureka Fire currently burning inside Joshua Tree National Park.
Update 7:27 p.m.: Joshua Tree National Park has released an update on the fire, including some closure information:
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.– Joshua Tree National Park staff has been responding to a fire 3 miles Northeast of Eureka Peak in the Covington Flats area of the park. Crews from Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service, San Bernardino County Sheriffs and Fire Protection worked with the park to contain 40 percent of the fire to an estimated 175 acres as of 6:30pm PST. Crews will continue to work through the night.
The cause of the Eureka Fire is currently unknown and will be under investigation.
There are temporary closures within the affected areas of the park while fire containment remains active:
Lower Covington Flats Road and La Contenta within the Park boundary.
Backcountry camping in the zones covering Black Rock, Covington, Quail Wash, and Juniper.
California Riding and Hiking Trail starting in Black Rock
Creosote/Bigfoot Trail starting off Park Blvd in the park.
Update 5/30/25 3:46pm: The Public Information Officer from Joshua Tree National Park says that the Eureka Fire is currently holding within the fire retardant lines at 165 acres and there is no current structure threat.
Update 5/30/25 at 2:00pm: The fire has been reported at 165 acres, with no current reports of containment. Sources within the National Park says that over 65 fire personel are responding to the fire, which is in a particularly sensitive geological zone of the Convington Flats area. A tanker, spotter planes and helicopters were spotted flying over the area.
We will continue to update this story as more information comes in.
Joshua Tree National Park released the following update at 1:40 p.m.:
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.– Joshua Tree National Park is responding to a fire in the Covington Flats area of the park. This fire was reported around 12pm PST on May 30th, 2025. Approximately 20 acres has been affected as of this report. Today’s weather: sunny, with a high temperature near 84. South winds around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Additional resources from BLM and County are being called to help with containment.
A vegetation fire inside of the Joshua Tree National Park Friday (May 30) has burned approximately 20 acres in the Covington Flats area as of 2 p.m.
Z107.7 has confirmed that the fire is burning in the Covington Flats area of the park. The National Park Service is coordinating the response, which includes crews from San Bernardino County Fire and the Bureau of Land Management.
As of 2:30 p.m., smoke from area has reduced since it’s peak at around 1:15 p.m.
Fighting any wildfire relies on people. From the boots on the ground who initially report the fire and coordinate efforts to fight it, to the state and federal agencies that respond from outside the fire’s area. When a wildfire breaks out on public lands like Joshua Tree National Park, Rangers are almost always the first ones to the scene, as they are the most familiar with the terrain and the environment that the fire is burning through. They also may be the only people in an area where a fire is reported, especially in a park like Joshua Tree which is over 1200 square miles of open desert and rugged mountains.
An understaffed park received more cuts in February
At the beginning of this year, Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR) was already understaffed when the Department of the Interior fired around 1000 probationary workers across the National Park System, resulting in a reduction of six rangers at Joshua Tree National Park. Those workers eventually got their jobs back through a federal judge who ruled the firings unconstitutional. Those firings and rehirings made big news, including coverage here on Z107.7. However, staffing struggles inside the park remained behind the scenes as rounds of buyout offers and early retirements continued to reduce the workforce inside Joshua Tree National Park. The reduction in staff is an effort spearheaded by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to cut what they characterize as wasteful spending. A hiring freeze was also put in place by Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum right before the busy Spring season for most public lands, which means that for every employee that was badgered to accept a buyout or take an early retirement, their now-vacant position couldn’t be filled.
Joshua Tree National Park rangers already face over three million visitors a year and the shrinking skeleton crew of park staff were are now forced to work extra hours in positions they didn’t normally do. Rangers were tasked with new responsibilities in public facing jobs like fee collection or campground maintenance which are necessary jobs in a popular park like Joshua Tree National Park. However those more visible roles hide the true cost of a reduced workforce, with less Rangers available to respond to emergencies or take on tasks such as Preventative Search and Rescue.
We asked a source inside the park about the potential impact the Eureka Fire could have on the National Park as we enter another busy weekend. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that fighting the fire and the mop up efforts may initially take away personnel away from other parts of the park and their regular tasks, and more “behind the scenes” projects and support will suffer. However, visitors are unlikely to notice the impact in the short term, as the park has already been operating on a reduced but dedicated crew. The source says once the Eureka fire is no longer active, the National Park will face a complex restoration in the impacted area from both from the fire itself and the efforts to contain it. Park employees will be working to restore roads and cultural trails, and wildlife and vegetation scientists will be working alongside fire cleanup and prevention.
The National Park Conservation Association’s California Desert Program Manager Luke Basulto spoke with me about reduced workforce inside the park:
Luke Basulto: “Our parks need to be fully staffed in order to operate efficiently and keep the parks in a way that is safe and enjoyable for visitors. Heavily visited parks like Joshua Tree are being asked to do more with less. You may not see the effects obviously, but park staff that have to do the jobs of two or three employees are certainly feeling the pressure to make sure visitors have the best experience possible.”
Park Rangers are essential for all public lands
It’s hard to imagine what the Eureka fire could have been, as winds were mercifully light and temperatures were still mild on Friday (5/30). However, favorable weather conditions aren’t the only reason the fire didn’t reach more catastrophic levels.
Joshua Tree National Park rangers showed up yesterday to help fight the fire and coordinate efforts in the park even if it was their day off. For an overworked crew that has been stretched thin by illegal firings and misguided attempts to cut costs, it shows that our Park Rangers still care about Joshua Tree National Park and the people and lands that surround it.
Summer slows down in the hi-desert but the fire dangers don’t, and a fire season that was once only a few summer months has now stretched into a year long problem. When visiting Joshua Tree National Park, take extra care with anything that could cause a fire and be mindful of the crew of workers that are making Joshua Tree National Park a safe place to visit.
Thank a Park Ranger, a firefighter, a first responder, or anyone who makes an extra effort to preserve and protect our public lands during a time that they are facing threats both natural and manmade.
Friends and family of Joshua Barreras gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 27 2024
Troy Reynolds, the suspect in a hit-and-run that killed Yucca Valley teenager Joshua Barreras, returned to Court for an Early Disposition Hearing yesterday morning. Reynolds was identified by the Sheriff’s Department as the primary suspect following a four-week investigation; he turned himself in at the Joshua Tree Courthouse last February, entering a plea of “Not Guilty.”
District Attorney Jason Gueltzow was present, and Special Appearance Attorney Jessica DeSalva appeared for James Rogan on behalf of the defense. Judge Sarah Oliver considered a memorandum from Probation concerning Reynolds’ GPS monitor. As the department was paying for the monitor, it requested to either remove the device or transfer the cost to the Bond Agent. Judge Oliver noted that it was the Court’s motion that ordered the device due to concerns about flight risk and that Reynolds had worn the monitor for over a year and attended all court hearings on time. She granted the request to remove the monitor but noted that the $500,000 bond would remain in place, as would the orders that Reynolds not operate a motor vehicle or leave San Bernardino County without court permission.
The attorneys maintained they were working towards a resolution for the case and requested another continuation of the Early Disposition Hearing for July 11. Judge Oliver granted the request and confirmed with Attorney Gueltzow that the victim’s family had been apprised on the need for a continuance.
Troy Reynolds is charged with Felony Hit and Run Resulting in Permanent Injury or Death; he is currently out on $500,000 bail.
A group of residents calling themselves the Joshua Tree Village Neighbors (JTVN) says that San Bernardino County officials think “they’re above the law” by sidestepping the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and they have filed a lawsuit against the county and the developer that was given the greenlight to start construction on 64 homes in Joshua Tree.
According to San Bernardino County and LoveMore LLC, the developer is staying within the bounds of what the lot was planned for and at a density that is less than half of what the county allows on a single-family residental zoned lot of that size. LoveMore’s website says that the 18.5 acre plot is zoned for up to 114 homes, and that 64 homes were chosen to balance housing density with preserving the natural habitat.
That natural habitat contains all native the desert flora you’d expect for a lot within a few miles of the National Park, including Western Joshua Trees. LoveMore’s website says that the lot doesn’t have desert tortoise or burrowing owls on it, and that any of the Western Joshua Trees that need to be disturbed will be done so by an arborist in compliance with the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. They also claim that they plan to plant more native species that they need to remove.
The Joshua Tree Village Neighbors says the project would clear native vegetation and eliminate nearly all natural open space, and the County approved the project through a Mitigated Negative Declaration rather than a full Environmental Impact Report.
In addition to the 64 homes planned for the lot, the LoveMore Ranch is also proposing a treatment facility to handle the wastewater from the homes, which JTVN says has “no design plans or environmental analysis.” According the LoveMore’s website, they say that the proposed project surpasses the Joshua Basin Water District’s (JBWD) Wastewater Treatment Strategy by using what they call a “Package Treatment Plant” which is designed to be “odor-free, visually discreet, and an example of sustainable waste management.”
Joshua Tree doesn’t have a sewer system and most homes in the area use septic tanks for wastewater treatment.
The Joshua Tree Village Neighbors describe themselves as a grassroots coalition of residents “dedicated to preserving the integrity of the high desert and protecting the rural character of their community.” Their press release says that they adcovate for planning decisions that uphold environmental law, address the realities of a fragile desert ecosystem, and reflect the will of the people.
You can read the entirety of the JTVN’s lawsuit on their website www.stoplovemoreranch.com where they have a more complete breakdown of their legal and environmental concerns with the project.
You can also read more about LoveMore Ranch at their website www.lovemore.group, where they have a Frequently Asked Questions section that lays out many of the group’s responses to concerns brought up in the lawsuit and last month’s appeal to the county by JTVN.
Both groups also have contact information on their websites where you can ask questions or provide feedback.
Mil-Tree in partnership with the Mojave Desert Land Trust has received a grant for the Force of Nature Programs from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). Veterans, active military, and their families are invited to a nature hike this Saturday, May 31.
In March, the group hosted a bird-watching event at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. This time, it’s a hike on the Nancy Karl Trail in Joshua Tree, followed by a light breakfast and a presentation at the Mojave Desert Land Trust headquarters, located at 60124 Twentynine Palms Highway.
The Town of Yucca Valley has teamed up with the Animal Action League to host a free Spay & Neuter Event for Town residents. This important initiative supports the community by reducing pet overpopulation and encouraging responsible pet ownership.
The one-day event is on June 26, but you can register your pet right now in person at the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter. A $20 deposit is required and you must show a valid proof of residency. By offering these services at no cost, the Town hopes to remove financial barriers and make it easier for residents to care for their pets responsibly.
On Tuesday (May 27), San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies say they received several reports of a vehicle driving the wrong way, in the westbound lanes on Twentynine Palms Highway heading eastbound into Morongo Valley. Deputies say the driver, identified as Herbert Meyer, 92, pulled into the Chevron gas station in Morongo Valley, where they contacted him. Deputies say that Meyer acknowledged that he had been driving on the wrong side of the road. He was issued a citation for suspicion of reckless driving and his vehicle was towed from the gas station.
The Sheriff’s Department said that Meyer was determined to be gravely disabled and taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for a 72-hour hold.
If you see someone driving erratically on the road, contact 911 for your safety and the safety of others.
