A massive wildfire on Santa Rosa Island, part of Channel Islands National Park in Southern California, has scorched 14,600 acres after a shipwrecked sailor inadvertently started the blaze with distress flares.
The fire, which began on Friday, has become the largest in California this year, fueled by strong winds that hinder firefighting efforts.
The incident started when a 67-year-old man crashed his sailboat on the island’s rocky coast. In an attempt to signal for help, he fired emergency flares, which sparked the wildfire. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the man, who etched “SOS” into the ground, using a helicopter. He was taken to a hospital in Camarillo and was not seriously injured, according to The Guardian.
Firefighters have been battling the blaze, which remains 0% contained, with about 70 personnel on the ground. The fire has destroyed two historic structures—Johnson’s Lee Equipment Shed and Wreck Line Camp Cabin—and threatens rare plant species, including the endangered Torrey pine. The fire’s impact on the island’s unique ecosystem, often referred to as the “Galapagos of California,” is a major concern, as reported by Los Angeles Times.
Efforts to contain the fire have been hampered by gale-force winds, making aerial water drops ineffective. Firefighters are using existing roads and trails to create containment lines to protect sensitive ecosystems. The island, home to rare species and significant archaeological sites, remains closed to visitors, and National Park Service staff have been evacuated.
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