Firefighters make progress on wildfires burning across Southern California

Firefighters are making significant progress on the flurry of wildfires that ignited across Southern California within the last week, during a period of dry, windy weather.

Firefighters say they’re now in the mop-up phase of battling the region’s largest active wildfire, the Santa Rosa Island Fire. The fire has grown to nearly 18,400 acres since it started on May 15.

The Santa Rosa Island Fire is the largest ever recorded on the Channel Islands. Investigators say the fire was started by an emergency flare fired by a man who crashed his sailboat into the island. 

Two uninhabited historic structures have been lost to the fire: The Johnson’s Lee Equipment Shed on the western end of the island, and Wreck Line Camp Cabin on the eastern end, National Park Service officials said.

The Sandy Fire in Ventura County is now 61% contained after burning nearly 2,200 acres in Simi Valley. The fire started on May 18, and has destroyed at least one home.

The Sandy Fire prompted the Simi Valley Unified School District to shutter all of its schools for almost a week. The district announced Friday that the schools will reopen on May 26. The district said that the closures will not result in a longer school year.

“We will not need to extend the school year to make up for the days schools were closed due to the fire emergency,” the Simi Valley Unified School District announced Friday. “The district intends to seek the appropriate state waiver related to attendance and instructional minutes resulting from a widespread public emergency.”

See details for all the major fires burning across Southern California below:

Santa Rosa Island Fire

• Location: Channel Islands National Park
• Size: 18,379 acres
• Containment: 72% contained
• Date started: May 15

Sandy Fire

• Location: Ventura County
• Size: 2,183 acres
• Containment: 61% contained
• Date started: May 18

Bain Fire

• Location: Riverside County
• Size: 1,497 acres
• Containment: 81% contained
• Date started: May 19

Verona Fire

• Location: Riverside County
• Size: 648 acres
• Containment: 67% contained
• Date started: May 19

Tusil Fire

• Location: San Diego County
• Size: 820 acres
• Containment: 100% contained
• Date started: May 19

Alta Fire 

• Location: Los Angeles County
• Size: 334 acres
• Containment: 0% contained
• Date started: May 21