A wildfire that ignited on Santa Rosa Island within the Channel Islands National Park has escalated into California's most extensive blaze of the year, consuming more than 10,000 acres. The fire has destroyed historic structures and threatens rare plant communities that conservationists had painstakingly worked to restore.
Firefighters Battle Blaze with Limited Containment
Approximately six dozen firefighters have been deployed to combat the fire, which began on Friday. However, their efforts have been hampered by strong winds. According to a Cal Fire incident report, the fire remains at 0% containment as of Monday.
Origin of the Fire Linked to Distress Flare
The fire on Santa Rosa Island appears to have been ignited after a 67-year-old sailor crashed his boat against the island's rocky shore, leaving him stranded. In an attempt to attract attention from passing vessels, the man discharged at least two flares.
Kenneth Wiese, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard's southwest district, noted that the strategy succeeded. Individuals aboard two separate boats contacted the National Park Service to report a possible stranded person on Santa Rosa, part of the Channel Islands National Park off the Southern California coast.
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter that was already airborne to rescue the man, who had spent the night on the island. The sailor had carved the letters 'SOS' into the charred ground, as depicted in images shared on Instagram by the Coast Guard. He was transported to a hospital in nearby Camarillo and appeared uninjured.
'We do know that he launched some flares to try to get some attention,' Wiese said. 'It paid off for him. We were able to get him out of there.'
However, those flares may have sparked the wildfire along the southern coast of the 53,000-acre island. Wiese stated he could not confirm the fire's cause but indicated that the National Park Service (NPS) is conducting an investigation. The NPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Island Closed to Visitors as Fire Rages
The NPS issued a notice on Sunday closing Santa Rosa Island to visitors while firefighters work to control the blaze. Staff were evacuated on Sunday, according to the Mercury News.
The fire has reportedly destroyed two structures: the Johnson's Lee Equipment Shed and the Wreck Line Camp Cabin.
Ecological Impact on the 'Galapagos of California'
The Channel Islands are renowned for their high biodiversity, often referred to as the 'Galapagos of California.' However, Santa Rosa's ecology has suffered from over a century of uncontrolled grazing by livestock and non-native ungulates introduced for hunting. Both livestock and non-native wildlife were removed over a decade ago, allowing native plants to recover.
Six plant species grow exclusively on Santa Rosa Island, according to the San Francisco Gate. The NPS hopes firefighters can protect a rare grove of Torrey pines from the flames, as reported by the outlet.
