Largest fire ever recorded on Santa Rosa Island endangers 'gem of California coast'

Key Points:

• A wildfire ignited by emergency flares from a shipwrecked mariner has burned approximately 15,000 acres, about one-fourth of Santa Rosa Island, marking the largest blaze in the island's modern history and remains 0% contained.
• Firefighters faced challenges due to gusty winds and rough seas, transporting personnel and supplies by boat while striving to protect sensitive wildlife, including the rare Torrey pine species and endemic animals unique to the Channel Islands.
• The fire destroyed two historic buildings and a storage structure, and forced the evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees; flames approached critical habitats and culturally significant sites on the island.
• The blaze was sparked when a man crashed his sailboat on the island and fired emergency flares to signal for help; he was rescued after spending a night stranded on the island.
• Efforts to combat the fire included using natural barriers to contain flames and limited use of aerial water drops due to high winds; around 70 firefighters were deployed with more en route to manage the complex situation.