Santa Rosa Island Wildfire Leads to Helicopter Evacuation of Park Employees

A helicopter from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department carried out an evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees from Santa Rosa Island on Sunday. The evacuation was necessary as a human-caused wildfire spread over 10,000 acres, posing a threat to employee housing.

The Fire Department communicated the successful operation on X, stating that Helicopter 964 transported the employees from their housing to Oxnard Airport without any reported injuries. The swift response ensured the safety of the park staff amidst the ongoing vegetation fire.

Crews faced challenging conditions as they battled the wind-driven blaze on the Channel Islands National Park island. The Los Angeles Times reported that the fire had destroyed two structures and had no containment as of Sunday evening.

On the south side of Santa Rosa Island, the fire burned between Ford Point and South Point and was mapped at 10,025 acres by Sunday afternoon, according to Cal Fire. The National Park Service, responsible for managing the incident, described the wildfire as human-caused and under investigation.

Smoke from the fire has moved eastward to the California coast, affecting air quality in the early week, as reported by the National Weather Service in San Diego. The agency advised monitoring air quality conditions as smoke from the Santa Rosa Island fire continues to drift towards the region.

Beyond the immediate threat to humans, the blaze poses ecological risks. Santa Rosa Island, the second-largest in the Channel Islands, hosts rare plant species and wildlife. Six plant species native to the island and found nowhere else are at risk due to the fire. The island supports diverse wildlife, including island foxes, spotted skunks, and elephant seals.

Currently, around 70 firefighters and park rangers are actively working to combat the wildfire, according to the Times. In light of the fire, Santa Rosa Island, located 26 miles off Santa Barbara, has been closed to visitors through at least this week.