Nasa images show wildfire damage to island dubbed ‘Galapagos of California'
The satellite visuals reveal vast burn scars after blaze tore through rare ecosystems on Santa Rosa Island
www.theguardian.comfire on Santa Rosa Island within Channel Islands scorched tens of thousands of acres, California’s biggest blaze this year. Containment work continue by late May, multi-agency teams working to control the fire, while two historic buildings were among structures destroyed. Visitors faced closures as crews fought the fire to protect rare ecosystems. The fire began with a mariner’s distress flare from a boat crash, according to Coast Guard and National Park Service reports. Containment has advanced through coordinated efforts among agencies. There have been no reported civilian or firefighter casualties. Environmental impacts on unique plant and animal life remain a focus of suppression and repair work.