Santa Rosa Island's 18,000-Acre Fire Threatens 6 Endemic Plants as Flares Come Under Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 23
Santa Rosa Island's 18,000-Acre Fire Threatens 6 Endemic Plants as Flares Come Under Scrutiny
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 23
Nearly one-third of Santa Rosa Island has burned in an 18,000-acre wildfire, putting six plant species found nowhere else on Earth at risk, including the island’s distinct Torrey pine grove.
Firefighters have so far kept the flames from overrunning the Torrey pines, and drone footage still shows some green canopy, though scientists say delayed tree deaths could emerge months or years later.
A 67-year-old sailor who crashed his boat on the island fired at least two flares before being rescued, and officials are investigating whether those flares—or a burning sailboat seen onshore—sparked the blaze.
Biologists say some endemics may rebound after fire, but the East Point dwarf dudleya has already burned in its tiny range, while the fire’s effects on Torrey pines, insects and protective soil crusts remain unclear.
Santa Rosa’s fire is especially alarming because wildfires are rare on the Channel Islands, where native plants had only recently recovered from decades of damage by introduced grazing animals.
With ancient trees burned, are seed banks the only hope, or could this fire unexpectedly reset the island's ecosystem?
A sailor’s flares may have torched an island's ecosystem. What is the price for such a catastrophic accident?
Santa Rosa Island Wildfire Devastates 17,554 Acres: Endangered Flora, Fauna, and Cultural Sites at Risk
Overview
Santa Rosa Island, known for its rare plants and animals, faced a massive wildfire that started on May 15. The fire caused unprecedented ecological devastation, burning 17,554 acres—about a third of the island—by May 21, with only 44% contained. This blaze is the largest ever recorded on the island and the biggest in California this year. It is also the first major wildfire since the National Park Service took over in the 1980s. The scale and intensity of the fire have raised serious concerns about the future of the island’s unique ecosystem and vulnerable species.