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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.
Potential impacts of Eureka Fire on JOTR visitors
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.
You can read more about the National Park Conservation Association on their website. They are a non-profit partner of the National Park system. There are buttons on there you can push to donate to them.
As always, thanking a ranger is free.
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