The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol maintains a small base on the northern coast of the island which is staffed only in summer.

[5][6] The Danish geologist and Arctic explorer Lauge Koch (1892–1964) had a cabin on the northern side of the island named "Eagle's Nest."

During World War II, U.S. military forces had a radio, weather, and sledge patrol station called "Bluie East Four" on the island.

[9][10][11] The tsunami also struck the northern part of Ella Island 73 kilometres away with a 4-meter wave, penetrating 50 metres (55 yd) inland and devastating the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol station, washing some of it into the sea.

The cruise ship Ocean Albatros arrived on the scene on 17 September and contacted the Joint Arctic Command with the first report of the damage.