The wildfire sparked on Santa Rosa Island on Friday grew to more than 10,000 acres over the weekend, destroying two historic structures and encroaching on sensitive habitat for endangered plant species — including the rare Santa Rosa torrey pine tree, which is found only on the island and in two California preserves .
Problems such as wildfire run the risk of the trees disappearing from the island entirely. Five other rare plant species, found only on the island and nowhere else in the world, are also threatened by the fire’s spread.
The blaze started on the southeast edge of the island — in remote and rugged terrain between Ford Point and South Point — on Friday morning. Since then, it has grown toward the northeast edge, reaching South Wreck Road and Quemada Canyon Road. It is 0 percent contained. According to satellite imagery, the fire was about ½ mile from the Torrey Pines area as of Monday morning.
