Wildfire Burns Nearly One-Third of Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park

A wildfire that began last Friday has burned more than 16,000 acres on Santa Rosa Island, consuming nearly one-third of the land area. The National Park Service manages the island as part of Channel Islands National Park. The blaze is human-caused, though its exact origin remains under investigation.

News outlets reported that the fire likely started from a flare set off by a stranded sailor who spelled out an SOS on the ground. The sailor was rescued. The fire is the largest in California so far this year.

Dozens of firefighters were ferried to the island to fight the flames. Strong winds and the island's remote, rugged terrain have slowed progress. As of Tuesday morning the fire was zero percent contained. Additional firefighters arrived on the island on Wednesday.

Some equipment and crews are scheduled to reach the site by midweek, according to a federal fire report. Crews are using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics to limit damage to natural and cultural resources.

Species and Ecosystems Santa Rosa

Island is one of five islands in Channel Islands National Park, which contains species found nowhere else. These include the island fox, island spotted skunk, island monkeyflower, and the Dudleya gnoma succulent. The island also holds archaeological sites linked to the Chumash people and fossils of pygmy mammoths.

The fire passed through the island's main stand of Torrey pine trees. Crews reported low fire intensity in that area and plan a visual inspection. Torrey pines disperse seeds after fire, but intense burns can still damage the stand. Lauren Harris, an ecologist with Channel Islands Restoration, said the combination of dry grasses, summer heat, and an ignition source creates risk for species that exist only on the islands.

She noted that climate change can worsen these conditions. Russell Galipeau, former superintendent of Channel Islands National Park, said the islands' sensitivity makes certain firefighting methods, such as bulldozer lines, a concern. He also questioned whether additional resources could have been mobilized earlier.

The National Park Service has worked for decades to remove livestock and invasive species and restore native plants on the islands. The current fire could create open ground that allows invasive plants to spread before native species recover, Harris said.

Island fox populations had increased from 15 individuals on two islands to several thousand after recovery programs. Galipeau said the fire could threaten these animals if it destroys habitat or food sources. The island remains closed to the public.

Dry winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures continue to support fire growth.