UMVA has learned that a dramatic helicopter rescue unfolded on Santa Rosa Island Sunday as a human‑caused wildfire scorched more than 10,000 acres and threatened vital employee housing.
Helicopter 964 swooped in, whisking 11 National Park Service staff away from the encroaching flames and landing them safely at Oxnard Airport, with every crew member unharmed.
The blaze, raging on the south side between Ford Point and South Point, had already razed two structures and remained completely uncontained as crews battled the wind‑driven inferno.
Cal Fire mapped the fire at a staggering 10,025 acres by midafternoon, while investigators pursue the mystery of its human origin.
Smoke has drifted east, blanketing the California coast and threatening air quality for days, a reminder that the fire's reach extends far beyond the island’s borders.
On Santa Rosa Island, a sanctuary for rare plants and animals, the fire endangers six plant species found nowhere else on Earth, along with island foxes, spotted skunks and elephant seals.
Around 70 firefighters and park rangers fought on Sunday night, a testament to the relentless effort required to tame the island’s ferocious flames.
The island, 26 miles off Santa Barbara, remains closed to visitors, underscoring the ongoing danger and the commitment to protecting this fragile ecosystem.
