A telecommunications crew accidentally struck an underground crude oil pipeline in East Los Angeles on Friday morning, releasing an estimated 2,400 gallons of oil into nearby storm drains and the Los Angeles River. Wildlife officials said 25 birds have been rescued from the river and are receiving treatment at a San Pedro facility.
The rupture occurred near East Cesar Chavez and North Eastern avenues around 3:20 a.m. when contractors boring a 6-inch hole ten feet underground to install fiber-optic cable hit the pipeline, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The line transports crude oil from Kern County to the Port of Los Angeles.
Containment Efforts Underway
The pipeline operator shut down the line within 30 minutes of the rupture. Oil flowed onto surface streets and entered storm drains before reaching the river, fire officials said.
Crews deployed oil-absorbing booms at multiple locations along the waterway, including at Pacific Coast Highway, Willow Street and Ocean Boulevard. Skimming operations are removing visible oil from the river surface where sheen remains present.
An oil slick was observed Saturday near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge over the river. The city of Long Beach said Sunday it is monitoring downstream river conditions and no new oil is entering the waterway.
Wildlife Rescue Operations
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network confirmed over the weekend that multiple oil-covered birds had been found in the river following the spill. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response reported Sunday evening that 25 birds had been rescued and transported to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center in San Pedro for treatment and cleaning.
Road Closures and Public Safety
The intersection where the pipeline was struck remained closed Sunday as crews worked to excavate and repair the damaged line. Fire officials have not provided an estimated timeline for reopening the intersection.
Homeless services workers are contacting unhoused residents living along the riverbanks to inform them of the spill and offer assistance, according to Long Beach city officials.
Authorities have not released information about the telecommunications contractor involved in the incident or potential liability for the spill. The investigation into the rupture is ongoing.