Largest fire ever recorded burns Santa Cruz Island, endangering 'gem of California coast'

A wildfire ignited by a flare from a shipwrecked mariner burned nearly a fifth of Santa Rosa Island and became the largest blaze recorded on the island in modern history. Firefighters transported personnel, equipment, and supplies by boat despite gusty winds and rough seas. The fire spread up steep slopes through island chaparral, grass, and brush, reaching more than 10,000 acres with 0% containment. Two historic buildings were destroyed, and a helicopter evacuated National Park Service employees. Flames approached the island’s Torrey pine stand, one of only two natural locations for the species. Crews aimed to contain the blaze using existing roads, ridges, and trails to protect sensitive ecosystems and endemic species.

"Firefighters ferried in personnel, equipment and pallets of supplies by boat amid gusty winds and rough seas as they raced to save sensitive wildlife, including the continent's rarest species of pine tree. Preservationists were worried the flames could burn through pristine terrain unique to the region."

"Flames spread up steep slopes, chewing through island chaparral, along with some grass and brush, said Mike Theune, fire information officer assigned to the incident. Two historic buildings were destroyed - Johnson's Lee Equipment Shed and the Wreck Line Camp Cabin - along with a storage structure, he said. A helicopter evacuated 11 employees of the National Park Service, which manages the island as part of the Channel Islands National Park, on Sunday."

"Flames were about a half-mile from the island's stand of Torrey pines - one of just two places in the world where the species grows naturally, Theune said. Firefighters were seeking to contain the fire using preexisting features such as roads, ridges and trails rather than carving a fire line through the island's sensitive ecosystems, he said."

""It's one of our gems of the California coast," said Michael Cohen, chair of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. "It looks like it did 100 years ago - it's just untouched." The fire had burned more than 10,000 acres and was 0% contained."

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