13-Mile Oil Slick Hits Orange County Beaches, Prompting Closures

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A 13-mile oil slick that may have come from a pipeline leak off the coast of Newport Beach was expected to hit the coastline Saturday night, prompting closures.

Residents reported a horrible odor coming from the beach, and authorities closed Huntington Beach from the Santa Ana River jetty to the pier Saturday night, according to a tweet from the city. The closure comes in the middle of the Pacific Air Show in Huntington Beach and just days after the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Wildlife officials warned residents not to approach wildlife affected by the oil slick.

“They can cause more harm than good to the animals,” Eric Laughlin, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife told the Los Angeles Times. “Members of the public should avoid the oiled shoreline, as the area is unsafe and should only be cleaned by trained contractors."

Anyone who sees wildlife affected by the oil slick should call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877) 823-6926, added Laughlin.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the oil slick off Newport Beach on Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed.

According to the Coast Guard, which reported the incident at 12:18 p.m. The spill was reported approximately 13 square miles in size and three miles off the coast of Newport Beach on Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard Los Angeles tweeted.

California's Department of Fish and Wildlife said its spill prevention and response team was heading to the site as well.

"OSPR responding to reports of oil in federal waters several miles offshore of Huntington Beach. Multiple reports of sheen were made to Cal OES. OSPR crew on water surveilling area. Source, volume & oil type under investigation. Cleanup contractors being mobilized," the CDFW tweeted at 1:49 p.m.