California island fire linked to sailor's distress flare scorches 10,000 acres
Fire on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands national park becomes state's largest this year and threatens rare plants
www.theguardian.comblaze on Santa Rosa Island within Channel Islands scorched tens of thousands of acres, becoming California's largest wildfire of the year. Containment work are ongoing through late May, multi-agency teams fighting the flames, while some historic buildings were lost. The island was largely closed to visitors to safeguard rare flora and fauna. The fire was sparked after a mariner crashed his boat, per Coast Guard and National Park Service reports. Containment has progressed with multi-agency coordination. No civilian or firefighter fatalities or injuries have been reported so far. Efforts to suppress and repair continue with emphasis on the island’s unique ecosystems.