This US island is home to flora found nowhere else. Now, a wildfire threatens extinction: ‘watching with trepidation’
A wildfire on Santa Rosa Island threatens the unique flora, including the rare Torrey pine trees. Firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which has already burned a significant portion of the island. Experts are concerned about the survival of several endemic plant species that are found nowhere else in the world.
- ▪The wildfire has torched nearly one-third of Santa Rosa Island's surface.
- ▪Six endemic plant species, including the Torrey pines, are at risk due to the fire.
- ▪The fire is believed to have been started by a human-caused incident involving a sailor's flares.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — US |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/23/santa-rosa-island-wildfire |
| Publication time | Sat, 23 May 2026 13:00:28 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-23T13:17:26.711Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-23T13:17:26.711Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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| Publisher visit | Yes — open original |
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Torrey Pines in Santa Rosa, California Photograph: Holly Huff/SB Botanic GardenView image in fullscreenTorrey Pines in Santa Rosa, California Photograph: Holly Huff/SB Botanic GardenUS wildfiresThis US island is home to flora found nowhere else. Now, a wildfire threatens extinction: ‘watching with trepidation’Firefighters are racing to douse flames on Santa Rosa Island as experts express concern for survival of its unique habitatRoque PlanasSat 23 May 2026 09.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 23 May 2026 09.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleOn the south-eastern corner of Santa Rosa Island lies a grove of a few thousand Torrey pine trees, some of them more than 250 years old.
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