A helicopter from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department evacuated 11 National Park Service employees from Santa Rosa Island on Sunday. A wildfire threatened employee housing as it spread across more than 10,000 acres.

Evacuation Details:

The helicopter successfully transported all personnel from the threatened housing to Oxnard Airport. No injuries were reported during the evacuation. The quick action prioritized the safety of park staff.

The fire, driven by winds, damaged two structures on Channel Islands National Park’s Santa Rosa Island. Crews continue to battle the fire, which was 0% contained as of Sunday evening.

Location and Impact:

The blaze is located on the south side of the island between Ford Point and South Point. It was mapped at around 10,025 acres by Sunday afternoon. The National Park Service stated the fire is human-caused and under investigation.

Smoke from the fire affected air quality in coastal California, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service in San Diego. Residents were urged to track air quality using airnow.gov.

Environmental Threat:

Santa Rosa Island houses several rare plant species and wildlife such as island foxes. The fire endangers six native plant species found only on the island, presenting an ecological risk.

Approximately 70 firefighters and park rangers worked to suppress the fire. The island will remain closed to visitors through the week to aid firefighting efforts.

Eric Mack reports for Fox News Digital, focusing on breaking news coverage.