Wildfire on Santa Rosa Island Burns More Than 10,000 Acres

A wildfire on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands national park has become California's largest of the year, burning more than 10,000 acres. The fire broke out on Friday after a 67-year-old sailor crashed his boat on the island's shore and fired distress flares to signal for help. The flares are suspected of igniting the blaze along the southern coast.

About six dozen firefighters have been sent to the island.

Strong winds have slowed their efforts, and the fire is at zero percent containment, according to a Cal Fire incident report. The sailor was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after spending the night on the island. He had carved the letters "SOS" into the ground and was taken to a hospital in Camarillo, where he showed no injuries.

The National Park Service closed Santa Rosa Island to visitors on Sunday and evacuated staff. Two structures, Johnson's Lee Equipment Shed and Wreck Line Camp Cabin, have been destroyed. Six native plant species grow only on Santa Rosa Island. Firefighters are working to protect a stand of rare Torrey pines from the fire.