What is the name and location of the wildfire?
As of May 19, 2026, the Santa Rosa Island Fire is burning across the uninhabited Channel Island west of Los Angeles, California.
It's a fast-moving, growing fire and the largest on record for the island (1). Almost one fifth of the island has burned, and two historic structures have been destroyed by the fire.
Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?
The fire is active on the southeastern area of Santa Rosa Island. There are no population centers nearby. However, wind direction could carry the smoke north or east into populated areas.
Wildfire smoke can be carried across continents and oceans, meaning it is possible that smoke from the island might impact Santa Barbara or Los Angeles before the fire is extinguished.
What is the current containment status of the wildfire?
As of May 19, 2026, the Santa Rosa Island Fire has burned 14,600 acres and is at 0% containment (2)(3).
Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?
The National Park Service has closed Santa Rosa Island to all day and overnight use at least through this week due to the wildfire.
All non-fire staff have been evacuated from the island as a precautionary measure. Visitors with campground reservations at Water Canyon Campground have been notified via email. Additionally, 11 National Park Service employees were evacuated by helicopter on Sunday, May 17. There are no visitors currently on the island.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
As of May 19, 2026, this fire is 0% contained.
