A human-caused fire on the south side of Santa Rosa Island has burned more than 10,000 acres since Sunday night, destroying a cabin and an equipment shed and prompting the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees. Firefighters and rangers are working w
Smoke from a fast-moving wildfire hung over Southern California after a fire on Santa Rosa Island surged to more than 10,000 acres on Sunday night, threatening rare plants and animals on the island’s south side.
The blaze destroyed two structures — a cabin and an equipment shed — and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees. They were rescued by a Santa Barbara County Fire Department helicopter.
As of Sunday night, 70 firefighters and park rangers were battling the fire.. Its perimeter was 0% contained.. The Channel Islands National Park Service said the fire is threatening six plant species native to the island that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. while the island is also home to island foxes. spotted skunks and elephant seals.
The fire’s timeline has moved quickly.. It was first spotted by an aircraft on Friday night and grew to more than 5. 000 acres by Saturday night. with Cal Fire citing that expansion.. Smoke spread throughout the Los Angeles area on Sunday and was expected to drift through the region through Tuesday. according to the National Weather Service.
“The HRRR model shows near-surface smoke through at least Tuesday, assuming the fire continues,” the National Weather Service posted in connection with the drifting smoke threat. Its forecast guidance also pointed to tracking air quality while the fire remains active.
The investigation remains ongoing. The park service said the island was closed to visitors at least through this week, and that the fire was human-caused but still under investigation. Santa Rosa Island is about 26 miles off Santa Barbara.
The sequence of facts has stayed consistent as the fire grows: it was spotted Friday night, expanded to more than 5,000 acres by Saturday night, then crossed 10,000 acres Sunday night while the containment level remained at 0%, putting evacuations and long-range smoke expectations into play.
For now, firefighters and park rangers are still working to contain the blaze, even as the island’s closure continues and officials warn that smoke may continue drifting through the region through Tuesday.
Santa Rosa Island fire Channel Islands National Park Service 10 000 acres evacuation Cal Fire smoke forecast island foxes endangered plants