Fires: Santa Rosa Island

Fires: SANTA ROSA ISLAND

• 2002. Anderson, R. Scott Fire and Vegetation History of Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California

• 2026. Santa Rosa Island Fire Burns Through Rare Torrey Pine Grove Wildfire By Callie Fausey

A large effort is underway to save the island’s historic structures, housing, campgrounds, and pier as the “human-caused” fire scorches more than 16,000 acres.

Largest fire ever recorded on Santa Rosa Island endangers 'gem of California coast'

In the News~

November 3, 1969 Howard Albert Anderson, (1918-1969), cook on Santa Rosa Island, was killed in a ranch house fire. The fire was started by Anderson’s cigarette after he had been smoking in bed. Anderson was born in Arkansas, and had served in World War II. He had worked for Vail & Vickers for about six and a half years at the time of his death at age 51.

January 26, 2001 [LAT]: “A fire burned about 10 acres of grass and brush Monday on the southwest shore of Santa Rosa Island, federal authorities said. The blaze was reported about 8 A.M. by the crew of the commercial boat Vision, said Carol Spears, a spokeswoman for Channel Islands National Park. The cause of the fire was under investigation, she said. Crews from the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service battled the fire, along with two tankers and a helicopter.”

May 19, 2026 [LAT]: “Largest fire ever recorded on Santa Rosa Island endangers 'gem of California coast'.