Santa Rosa Island, California: The Santa Rosa Island fire has burned nearly a third of the Channel Islands National Park island, threatening rare wildlife and historic sites, officials said.
The blaze started Friday and reached nearly 17,000 acres by Tuesday evening. Cal Fire said it was California’s largest wildfire of the year and 26% contained.
The National Park Service says Santa Rosa Island is home to about 46 unique or endemic plants and animals. Some live nowhere else in the world.
The fire also moved through the island’s Torrey Pine grove. The rare native pine grows naturally only on Santa Rosa Island and in a small preserve near San Diego.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department said the fire destroyed two historic structures. Officials evacuated 11 National Park employees on Sunday.
The island remains closed to visitors. Officials said the fire was human-caused, but the National Park Service continues to investigate.
Read: Residents in Northern California evacuated amid fast-spreading fires
The US Coast Guard rescued a 67-year-old sailor Friday after his boat crashed into rocks near the island. Photos showed “SOS” carved into charred ground.
Several mainland fires have also forced evacuations across Southern California. The Bain Fire in Riverside County reached 1,456 acres, while the Sandy Fire in Ventura County put nearly 44,000 people under evacuation orders.
The Santa Rosa Island fire eased slightly after winds improved Tuesday, allowing aircraft to attack the flames. Crews were expected to assess damage to the Torrey Pine on Wednesday.
