Helicopter Evacuates Park Staff Amid Wildfire Threat

A helicopter from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department rescued 11 employees from the National Park Service on Sunday due to a wildfire on Santa Rosa Island. This blaze, believed to be human-caused, has spread across more than 10,000 acres, putting staff housing in jeopardy.

On social media, the fire department shared, “Helicopter Rescue – Helicopter 964 successfully evacuated 11 National Park Service personnel from Santa Rosa Island today during an ongoing vegetation fire. All personnel were safely transported from housing that could have been cut off by the flames to Oxnard Airport, and thankfully, there were no injuries reported.”

This swift action was vital for the safety of park staff. The evacuation occurred while firefighting teams battled a wind-driven fire in a remote section of the Channel Islands National Park. As of Sunday night, officials noted that the fire had destroyed two buildings and was completely uncontained.

The National Park Service indicated that the fire originated on the south side of Santa Rosa Island, between Ford Point and South Point. By Sunday afternoon, Cal Fire had mapped the blaze at 10,025 acres. They revealed that the incident is under investigation as it was human-caused.

According to the National Weather Service in San Diego, smoke from the wildfire could drift eastward, affecting air quality along the California coast in the days ahead. On social media, they commented, “If you noticed the smoke today, you were likely not imagining things. Smoke from the Santa Rosa Islands Fire is heading toward our area. If the fire continues, forecasts suggest smoke will linger in the region through at least Tuesday.”

This fire poses a significant ecological risk to Santa Rosa Island, which is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands and home to unique plants and animals. The park’s officials highlighted that the wildfire threatens six plant species that are found nowhere else globally, as well as wildlife including striped foxes and elephant seals.

Approximately 70 firefighters and park rangers were engaged in extinguishing the fire late Sunday. The island, located around 42 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, is inaccessible to visitors for at least the rest of the week as containment efforts proceed.