One of the Channel Islands that had a huge, 18,000-acre wildfire will reopen to the public for limited use in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
Santa Rosa Island was hit by a fire that charred more than a third of the island. It started on May 15 and took nearly three weeks to fully contain.
"Wildland fire is not a frequently occurring occasion on the islands, but this is the largest in Channel Islands history," said Ethan McKinley, Superintendent of Channel Islands National Park.
He said Santa Rosa Island will reopen for day use on July 1, but will remain closed for camping indefinitely.
"First in my mind is public safety, with shifting landscapes, erosion, and fallen trees," said McKinley. "We want to keep people safe and out of harm's way. We also want to make sure that they're not in the way of the land's recovery, and not creating new damage to this vulnerable landscape."
Crews are working to stabilize burned hillsides, especially around campsites. Preliminary assessments indicate that it may take several years for the island to recover from the blaze.
Coast Guard officials told KCLU News that a flare from a stranded boater started the fire, but the cause is still officially listed as under investigation.
