Santa Cruz Island Escaped Prescribed Fire 2018

In March 2018, Channel Islands National Park initiated mechanical tree removal and pile burning operations. The work is part of a long-standing project with the goal of removing eucalyptus trees to reduce hazardous fuels and restore ecological and hydrologic processes in several areas on Santa Cruz Island. With favorable conditions, including several inches of rain, a number of piles were burned successfully for two days. Burn piles were monitored, patrolled and mopped up twice daily for the next five days. On the morning of March 27, patrol and mop-up actions continued until about noon. Then, at approximately 14:00, fire was detected outside the piles and was actively moving. A wildfire was declared and suppression efforts initiated. Command of the wildfire transitioned to an on-site Type 3 incident commander and then to a local Type 3 incident management team. The weather changed to conditions more favorable for suppression efforts and containment of the fire was quickly gained. The wildfire area totaled approximately 258 acres.

Prescribed Fire, Escaped Prescribed Fire