A riparian conservation area in the Mojave Desert has been damaged by the Heritage Fire, which has burned about 500 acres near Victorville, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.While the fire is now about 95% contained, the full scope of the damage at Palisades Ranch is unclear.What was once a river shielded by a forest in the middle of the desert is now exposed, leaving around 40 special-status wildlife species, including beavers, birds, and other animals, vulnerable to trespassers and invasive species.Read more here.