Oil Spill In San Francisco Bay: Contained

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — A public health advisory was issued Tuesday because of an oil spill into San Francisco Bay. Oil continued to flow into the Bay from the Chevron Refinery in Richmond for about two hours, but was been stopped, according to a statement from the refinery.

The total spill was roughly 600 gallons of a petroleum and water mixture, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

County Supervisor John Goia reports that oil was leaking at a rate of 5 gallons per minute.

The spill was at the Chevron Richmond Long Wharf. Emergency crews reported to the scene, including local, state and federal agencies.

The Public Health Advisory was currently for portions of Richmond, North Richmond, and San Pablo.

According to the advisory from Contra Costa Public Health, "Eye, skin, nose or throat irritation may be possible for some people in the affected area. "

Overhead video from news helicopters showed a spreading sheen on the surface of the water.

The largest oil spill in San Francisco history was in 1971 when more than 800,000 gallons of fuel spilled as two oil tanker ships collided. In November 2007, more than 53,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Bay when the Cosco Busan container ship in heavy fog hit the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge .

The 50th anniversary of the 1971 oil spill was last month, on Jan. 18. That spill led to the creation of the International Bird Rescue in Berkeley.

— Written by Patch editors Bea Karnes and Maggie Fusek