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.comflames on Santa Rosa Island in Channel Islands National Park has burned tens of thousands of acres, becoming California's largest wildfire of the year. Containment efforts continue through late May, with crews working to suppress the fire, while two historic buildings were among structures destroyed. Access to the island was restricted to protect rare ecosystems. The blaze was sparked after a mariner crashed his boat, as reported by Coast Guard and NPS. Containment has advanced through coordinated efforts among agencies. No civilian or firefighter fatalities or injuries have been reported so far. Environmental impacts on the island's plant and animal life continue to be a focus of suppression-repair efforts.