A sailor stranded on an isolated island inadvertently started California's largest wildfire of the year after firing a flare gun to attract attention. The 67-year-old man was trapped on Santa Rosa Island, part of the Channel Islands National Park, after his sailboat struck rocks near the island on Friday. He spent the night on the island before rescue crews arrived the following morning.
How the Fire Began
According to the United States Coast Guard, the sailor fired emergency flares to signal for help, which accidentally ignited a wildfire that grew to 1,000 acres by Friday afternoon. Officials from Coast Guard Air Station Ventura confirmed that the flare gun sparked the blaze. Images from the scene show the sailor had written 'SOS' in the scorched grassland.
Firefighting Efforts
More than 70 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze, which has scorched nearly 14,600 acres since it began on Friday morning. As of Monday, the fire remained 0% contained. The National Park Service noted that firefighting efforts have been complicated by several mainland fires, including the Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, which has burned over 1,300 acres, destroyed at least one home, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
'Today new wildfires ignited on the mainland which immediately became the priority,' the Park Service said in an incident update. 'Per policy, firefighting resources are always assigned based on the greatest threats to life, safety, and property. This prioritisation helps ensure that the most urgent needs are addressed first during rapidly evolving fire activity.'
Protecting Rare Trees
Efforts on Monday focused on protecting the island's Torrey pines, a rare species that exists naturally only on Santa Rosa Island and within a small reserve in San Diego. Unfortunately, officials confirmed that the fire had reached the area where the trees grow. 'Upon initial assessments, fire crews are observing that the fire intensity was low and that the stand remains intact,' the incident report stated. 'When safe to do so, a fire effects crew will be assigned to make a full determination of condition and any long-term effect.'
Challenging Conditions
Strong north-easterly winds, with gusts exceeding 30 mph, hampered firefighting operations on Monday. Despite the conditions, crews were able to create defensible space around buildings on the north-east side of the island and prepare roads for containment operations. Firefighters were also working to protect the South Point lighthouse on the island's south-west side.
The Park Service said additional firefighters, all-terrain vehicles, hoses, and pumps were expected to arrive on Tuesday, with specialised wildfire engines due to be transported to the island later in the week.
Damage and Impact
No injuries have been reported, but two historic structures on the island—Johnson's Lee Equipment Shed and Wreck Line Camp Cabin—have been destroyed. Santa Rosa Island lies around 26 miles off the California coast and is home to several plant species found nowhere else in the world. The wildfire has burned more than a quarter of the island, threatening its unique ecosystem.
