Wildfire on Santa Rosa Island Burns 17,554 Acres

M. Thursday. The fire began on the island's southeastern terrain southwest of Santa Barbara. Fire crews inside Channel Islands National Park have confirmed the destruction of three historic structures: Johnson's Lee Equipment Shed, a nearby storage building, and the Wreck Line Camp Cabin.

The Santa Rosa Island Torrey pine grows naturally only on the island and near San Diego. National Park Service officials said the island's Torrey pine groves still exist and remain largely intact, though some small pockets burned with higher intensity.

The species is classified as a separate subspecies due to thousands of years of isolation. Officials have not yet determined how many Torrey pines were damaged or whether the trees can be restored.

The fire also threatens several rare and endangered plants unique to the island, including Santa Rosa Island Manzanita, Santa Rosa Island Live-forever, Hoffmann's Gilia, Munchkin Dudleya, and Island Tree Mallow. Wildlife populations that could be affected include island foxes, island spotted skunks, and island deer mice.

Investigators are examining whether the wildfire started after a stranded mariner used an SOS flare following a shipwreck. The blaze has forced the closure of Channel Islands National Park while firefighters work to protect the historic Main Ranch structures.