A semi-truck with a cargo hold full of water bottles suffered an ironic fate in Death Valley National Park when it caught fire and burned out.

The incident happened on Jan. 10, though park officials only disclosed the incident Friday. The truck was going eastbound on California State Route 190 when it started burning, park officials said in a release. The highway is the only commercial thoroughfare through the park.

Park officials did not mention the driver or whether they were injured in the incident.

First responders to the scene hypothesized that the trailer brakes got too hot as the truck went down an incline, sparking the fire.

An unnamed park ranger at the scene said that the water bottles inside the truck melted but that the water inside them could not quench the flames, park officials said in their release.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.