Aug. 14 (UPI) -- An off-duty park ranger and a National Park Service fire engine crew came to the assistance of a tractor-trailer driver whose brakes twice caught fire in California's Death Valley National Park.
The National Park Service said an off-duty employee was driving behind a semi truck on eastbound California State Road 190 from Towne Pass when the large vehicle's brakes caught fire.
The employee used her NPS radio to report the flames to rangers manning a fire engine in Furnace Creek, about 35 miles away.
The semi driver pulled over to the shoulder and was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
The truck continued on the road and the employee continued to follow to watch for more flames.
The brakes again caught fire and the truck driver discovered his fire extinguisher was fully expended.
The rangers arrived with the fire engine in time to put out the returned flames and save the truck from incurring any significant damage beyond a single destroyed tire.
The truck was able to leave the scene on 17 wheels, the NPS said.
