Santa Rosa Island fire burns 10,000 acres

The National Park Service said on May 17 that a wildfire on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park had grown past 10,000 acres, prompting evacuations and destroying two historic structures. CAL FIRE listed the Santa Rosa Island Fire at 10,029 acres as of 5:57 p.m. on May 17 and said it remained 0% contained. The fire is burning on the south side of the island between Ford Point and South Point, according to CAL FIRE. Channel Islands National Park posted a closure alert on May 17 saying there was a wildfire on the south side of Santa Rosa Island and firefighters were on scene. ### Where is the fire burning, and when did it start? CAL FIRE said the fire started at 4:19 p.m. on May 15 on the south side of Santa Rosa Island, between Ford Point and South Point in Santa Barbara County. The agency said the incident is under National Park Service jurisdiction and is not a CAL FIRE incident, though CAL FIRE has continued to publish status updates. (fire.ca.gov) Santa Rosa Island is one of the five islands in Channel Islands National Park, which the National Park Service describes as a protected area preserving natural, cultural and archeological resources. The park says transportation to the islands is available year-round only by concessionaire boats and planes or by private boat, underscoring the logistical limits responders face. (fire.ca.gov) ### How fast did the acreage grow? CAL FIRE's incident log shows the fire at 1,000 acres on May 15, then 1,200 acres on the morning of May 16. By 5:56 p.m. on May 16, the agency said the burn area had been mapped at 5,690 acres. On May 17, CAL FIRE updated the figure again to 10,025 acres, and the main incident page later listed 10,029 acres. (nps.gov) CBS Los Angeles reported on May 17 that National Park Service officials said the fire had burned more than 10,000 acres. That report also said the blaze was described as a full-suppression, human-caused wildfire. Reuters could not independently verify the cause beyond CAL FIRE's listing of the cause as under investigation. (fire.ca.gov) ### What damage and evacuations have been reported? CBS Los Angeles reported that two historic buildings on the southern end of Santa Rosa Island were destroyed and that 11 National Park Service employees were evacuated by helicopter on May 17. Edhat, citing the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, reported that Helicopter 964 airlifted the 11 employees to Oxnard Airport without injury as the fire advanced toward their housing. (cbsnews.com) CAL FIRE said threats continued to structures, endangered species and cultural resources. The agency did not list a count of destroyed structures on its incident page, but its updates said remote island access and communications remained challenges for crews. ### Why is Santa Rosa Island a difficult place to fight fire? CAL FIRE said crews were being shuttled in by boat when the incident was first posted on May 15. (cbsnews.com) By May 16, the agency said remote island access and communications were complicating the response. The National Park Service says Channel Islands National Park protects resources found nowhere else and that Santa Rosa Island contains both natural and historic sites. (fire.ca.gov) A park fire management page says the program's goals include firefighter and public safety and protection of natural and cultural resources, which matches the priorities CAL FIRE listed in its updates. ### What is the public status now? Channel Islands National Park posted an alert on May 17 stating that there was a wildfire on the south side of Santa Rosa Island and that firefighters were on scene. The park's main visitor page showed that wildfire notice at the top of the site on May 18. CAL FIRE's latest public update was posted at 5:57 p.m. on May 17. The incident page said updates would be made as they became available, with the National Park Service listed as the agency having jurisdiction and no incident management team assigned. (nps.gov) (fire.ca.gov)