Channel Islands park closes after boat crash

Channel Islands National Park has closed Santa Rosa Island ahead of Memorial Day weekend after a wildfire that investigators say may have been sparked by a stranded sailor’s distress flare spread across the island. The National Park Service posted a closure notice dated May 17 saying there was a wildfire on the south side of Santa Rosa Island and firefighters were on scene. CAL FIRE’s incident page said the Santa Rosa Island Fire had burned 16,942 acres and was 26% contained as of May 20. The fire began after a sailboat grounded near the island, according to local and national reports citing the U.S. Coast Guard and park officials. ### Which part of the park is closed? Santa Rosa Island is the part of Channel Islands National Park now closed because of the fire. The park’s current conditions page lists a “Closure of Santa Rosa Island Due to Wildfire” alert dated May 17, while other islands in the park remain listed separately with their own conditions and notices. Island Packers, the main boat concessionaire serving the park, said the National Park Service had closed Santa Rosa Island to day use and overnight use at least through this week because of the wildfire. (nps.gov) May 23 is the start of the Memorial Day weekend travel period the closure will affect. Because access to the islands is primarily by boat, the Santa Rosa closure disrupts booked landings, camping trips and day visits tied to that island even as Channel Islands National Park itself remains open in a broader sense. NOAA’s visitor page says the sanctuary and islands are generally reached by boat, with limited plane access to Santa Rosa and San Miguel. (nps.gov) ### How did the fire start? May 15 is the date local reports first tied the fire to a grounded sailboat on Santa Rosa Island’s southeast edge near Ford Point. The Santa Barbara Independent reported that Park Ranger Mike Wilson said the fire was first reported by a plane flying overhead around 4:42 a.m. and confirmed by park staff by 8:30 a.m. that day. Wilson said the official cause remained under investigation. (islandpackers.com) The U.S. Coast Guard account cited by ABC7 and other outlets said a 67-year-old man’s sailboat crashed into rocks on the island and that emergency flares he fired to signal for help were believed to have sparked the blaze. SFGATE reported that Coast Guard officials believed a flare gun was the likely cause, while also noting the fire remained officially under investigation by the National Park Service. (independent.com) ### How large is the fire now? CAL FIRE said on May 20 that the Santa Rosa Island Fire had reached 16,942 acres and 26% containment. Later local fire coverage from Noozhawk reported containment had risen to 44% on May 21 as more crews, food, gear and engines were moved to the island by boat. National Parks Traveler reported that the fire had destroyed two historic structures — Johnson’s Lee Equipment Shed and the Wreck Line Camp Cabin — and had threatened employee housing, prompting Santa Barbara County Fire Department helicopter evacuations of 11 National Park Service employees from the island on May 18. (abc7.com) (fire.ca.gov) ### What should visitors watch before the holiday weekend? The National Park Service says visitors should check park alerts and current conditions before travel. The closure notice for Santa Rosa Island is posted on the park’s official alerts pages, and Island Packers has posted a service alert reflecting the closure for day use and overnight trips. May 23 departures are the next practical checkpoint for holiday travelers with Channel Islands plans. (nationalparkstraveler.org) Visitors with Santa Rosa reservations should monitor the park’s alert pages and concessionaire notices for changes, while travelers headed to other islands should verify landing conditions separately, including the existing dock restriction at Santa Barbara Island. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)