A human-caused wildfire rapidly expanded on Santa Rosa Island, the second-largest of California's Channel Islands, burning more than 10,000 acres as of Sunday night, May 17, 2026.

The fire, first spotted Friday night, destroyed a cabin and an equipment shed while prompting the helicopter evacuation of 11 National Park Service employees.Approximately 70 firefighters and park rangers are actively combating the blaze, which remains 0% contained.

The incident poses a significant threat to six plant species found nowhere else in the world, as well as native wildlife including island foxes, spotted skunks, and elephant seals.Smoke from the fire has drifted into the Los Angeles area and is expected to linger through Tuesday, affecting air quality in the region.Santa Rosa Island, located about 26 miles off Santa Barbara, has been closed to visitors for the week as a precaution.The Channel Islands National Park Service is leading response efforts, with the cause still under investigation.This event highlights the vulnerability of the ecologically sensitive island ecosystem to fires, especially those originating from human activity.Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to protect both the unique biodiversity and the remaining infrastructure on the island.