While many national parks remain open during the government shutdown, the vast majority of park employees have been furloughed. That leaves them more vulnerable, and now park officials have something else to worry about: wildfires.
In the last week, fires have broken out at Joshua Tree and Zion national parks. According to the White House, emergency personnel are supposedly still working. However, the shutdown has stymied NPS efforts to communicate with the public during these extreme weather events. A notice on the U.S. Department of the Interior website, for example, says it “may not be up to date.”
The White House has ordered the national parks to remain open during the shutdown. But two-thirds of NPS staff have been furloughed until the end of the shutdown. That leaves only a “skeleton crew” to operate them, according to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). The NPCA has demanded that the parks be closed for their own protection — but that seems unlikely to happen.
A notice on the U.S. Department of the Interior website says it “may not be up to date.”
What’s Happening With the Fires?
A wildfire broke out in the West Rim area of Zion National Park on Oct. 7, according to an NPS press release. The 25-acre fire closed Lava Point Road and West Rim Trail, and was caused by a lightning strike, park officials said.
In Joshua Tree National Park, a fire broke out near Black Rock Campground, an NPS-managed site, on Oct. 12. All campers were evacuated and the campground was closed.
As of the evening of Oct. 13, the Black Rock Fire was burning 72 acres and was 80% contained, according to CAL FIRE.
As of the evening of Oct. 13, the Black Rock Fire was burning 72 acres and was 80% contained, according to CAL FIRE. But wildfires haven’t been the only problem to hit national parks during the government shutdown.
In the days leading up to this year’s shutdown, park officials worried that they would see a repeat of the 2019 shutdown, when several parks were vandalized. Both then and now, many parks remain open to visitors, but with severely limited services — no trash collection, sanitation, or visitor assistance.
At Joshua Tree, the park saw illegal fires and littering. And with visitors attracted by the park’s forfeited entrance fee, trash soon piled up. Now, this latest pause of government services is once again resulting in lawless behavior at many national parks.
Effects of the Shutdown
During the shutdown, National Park Service staff who handle emergency responses, including fire suppression, are still actively working.
While the shutdown has not ostensibly interfered with firefighting, it has hampered the NPS’s ability to communicate with the public about these ongoing events.
Since the initial press release on Oct. 7, the NPS provided no updates about the fire in Zion. The NPS has not published any public information about the Black Rock Fire. CAL FIRE has been posting updates, even though the area on fire is not within its jurisdiction.
GearJunkie attempted to contact NPS staff at Zion and Joshua Tree national parks, but was unable to reach anyone due to the shutdown. Here’s how a few other national parks are faring amid the shutdown:
- Yosemite National Park: According to multiple media reports, the park has become chaotic since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, Sierra News reported. Illegal BASE jumping from El Capitan has become a common occurrence. Also, squatters have filled up campgrounds, and climbers have been using the Half Dome cables without permits.
- Rocky Mountain National Park: Things look better at Rocky Mountain National Park. But that’s only because many volunteers have stepped up to help, according to Ski-Hi News. Since the shutdown began, park rangers who normally work the front desk have been replaced with staff from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.
The NPCA also reported on increased activity at other parks, with few, if any, officials to manage the landscape or protect public safety. Moreover, without the ability to collect entrance fees, the parks are losing $1 million in revenue each day the government remains closed.
“What we saw in some of our national parks this weekend is a warning of what’s to come,” said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the NPCA. “At Great Falls, visitors parked illegally and climbed around barricades to get in. And at Gateway, crowds packed the beach, parking wherever they could with no staff to manage access, creating real safety risks … Worse still, even amid this shutdown, reports indicate the administration is pressing ahead with plans for mass staff cuts. Our national parks have never faced a greater threat.”
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