Three killed in suspected hate crime at San Diego mosque
Tragic shooting at San Diego mosque leaves three dead, suspects are teenagers.
BBC News1 min read
California island fire linked to sailor’s distress flare scorches 10,000 acres
TL;DR
A wildfire on Santa Rosa Island has burned over 10,000 acres, becoming California's largest this year. It was linked to a sailor's distress flares after he crashed his boat, prompting a rescue operation.
Key points
- Wildfire on Santa Rosa Island burned over 10,000 acres
- Fire linked to sailor's distress flares after boat crash
- Currently at 0% containment with strong winds affecting efforts
Mentioned in this story
Santa Rosa IslandCaliforniaUS Coast GuardNational Park Service
A wildfire that broke out on an island in the Channel Islands national park has become California’s largest wildfire so far this year, burning through more than 10,000 acres, destroying historic structures and endangering rare plant communities that conservationists had struggled to reclaim.
About six dozen firefighters have been deployed to control the blaze, which broke out on Friday, but their efforts have been undermined by strong winds. The fire is currently at 0% containment, according to a Cal Fire incident report.
The fire on Santa Rosa Island appears to have started after a sailor crashed his boat against the rocks on the shore of the island, leaving him stranded. The 67-year-old man shot at least two flares in an attempt to get passing boats to take notice of him.
The attempt appeared to work, according to Kenneth Wiese, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard’s southwest district. Wiese said people onboard two separate vessels contacted the National Park Service to say they suspected someone was marooned on Santa Rosa, part of Channel Islands national park off the southern California coast.
The Coast Guard sent a helicopter that was already in flight to retrieve the man, who had spent the night on the island. The man had etched the letters “SOS” into the charred ground, according to images posted to Instagram by the Coast Guard. Officials took him to a hospital in nearby Camarillo. He did not appear to have been injured.
The letters ‘SOS’ carved out by the sailor on the island. Photograph: Coast Guard Air Station Ventura
“We do know that he launched some flares to try to get some attention,” Wiese said. “It paid off for him. We were able to get him out of there.”
But the flares may have set off a wildfire along the southern coast of the 53,000-acre island. Wiese said he could not confirm the cause of the fire, but said the National Park Service (NPS) was carrying out an investigation. The NPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Q&A
What caused the wildfire on Santa Rosa Island?
The wildfire was caused by a sailor who shot distress flares after crashing his boat on the island.
How much land has the Santa Rosa Island fire burned?
The fire has burned through more than 10,000 acres, making it California's largest wildfire so far this year.
What is the current containment status of the Santa Rosa Island fire?
As of now, the fire is at 0% containment, with efforts hampered by strong winds.
