North Beach in San Francisco was temporarily closed on Saturday after a 58-foot fishing boat ran aground at Point Reyes National Seashore, officials reported. The vessel ran aground Friday morning, carrying an estimated 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
The boat has the capacity to hold up to 2,800 gallons of fuel. A unified command, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Park Service, was established to manage the response. Marin County Fire, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response are also assisting.
Officials are collaborating with the responsible party for the vessel and a contracted salvage company to safely extract the fuel. Visitors were instructed to avoid North Beach while the operation was underway. As of Saturday, there have been no reported injuries, active fuel leaks, or impacts on wildlife, according to the Coast Guard.
"Our top priorities are ensuring the safety of the first responders and the public, stabilizing the incident, and limiting environmental impacts," stated Coast Guard incident commander Lt. Cmdr. Carey Lewis. "Responders are continuously monitoring and evaluating the site for pollution and any potential risk factors so we can approach operations with intention to minimize environmental impacts."
The cause of the grounding is currently under investigation.