Photos: Massive oil spill mars Southern California beaches

Image 0 of 23

Southern California oil spill Crews deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday., Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill A posted sign warning about water contact may cause illness, is posted by life guards after an oil spill in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. Vessels with the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) vessel, background, an oil spill removal organization (OSRO), deploy floating barriers around the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. The oil created a miles-wide sheen in the ocean and washed ashore in sticky, black globules along with dead birds and fish. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Oil is shown washed up in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. At least 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of oil spilled into the waters off Orange County, according to a statement from the city of Huntington Beach. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill A boat with Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC), an oil spill removal organization (OSRO), deploys floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further incursion of an oil slick off Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. A major oil spill off the coast of Southern California fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors collect oil in plastic bags trying to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Patches of an oil spill wash off the beach south of the Pier in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. The closure stretched from the Huntington Beach Pier nearly 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) south to the Santa Ana River jetty amid summerlike weather that would have brought beachgoers to the wide strand for volleyball, swimming and surfing. Yellow caution tape was strung between lifeguard towers to keep people away. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors unload collected oil in plastic bags trying to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors unload collected oil in plastic bags trying to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Oil is shown washed up in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. At least 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of oil spilled into the waters off Orange County, according to a statement from the city of Huntington Beach. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday., Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors unload collected oil in plastic bags trying to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday., Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill A broken floating device is trapped in oil washed up in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. At least 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of oil spilled into the waters off Orange County, according to a statement from the city of Huntington Beach. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill Cleanup contractors deploy skimmers and floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further oil crude incursion into the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021. One of the largest oil spills in recent Southern California history fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP)

Southern California oil spill This Oct. 22, 2012, photo provided by the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, BSEE, shows the platforms Ellen and Elly offshore near Long Beach, Calif., in the BSEE's Pacific Region. Officials said late Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, that at least 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of crude spilled into the waters off Orange County from a pipeline that runs to shore from an oil platform maintained by Beta Operating Company, a subsidiary of Houston-based Amplify. (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement via AP) (AP)

October 03, 2021 at 8:46 pm PDT

Latest Photo Galleries

PHOTOS: Elderly couple and four cats evacuated in Skagit County

PHOTOS: Elderly couple and four cats evacuated in Skagit County

December 14, 2025 at 3:37 pm PST

PHOTOS: Rescue swimmers save people trapped in Snohomish

PHOTOS: Rescue swimmers save people trapped in Snohomish

December 11, 2025 at 7:46 am PST

PHOTOS: Landslide shuts down I-90

PHOTOS: Landslide shuts down I-90

December 10, 2025 at 2:59 pm PST

PHOTOS: Flooding in North Bend

PHOTOS: Flooding in North Bend

December 09, 2025 at 3:15 pm PST

PHOTOS: Flooding in Carnation

PHOTOS: Flooding in Carnation

December 09, 2025 at 2:09 pm PST

PHOTOS: Snoqualmie Falls after atmospheric river

PHOTOS: Snoqualmie Falls after atmospheric river

December 09, 2025 at 1:59 pm PST

PHOTOS: Historic Flooding in Western Washington

PHOTOS: Historic Flooding in Western Washington

December 09, 2025 at 12:25 pm PST

PHOTOS: KIRO 7 Cares Toy Drive Drop Off

PHOTOS: KIRO 7 Cares Toy Drive Drop Off

December 08, 2025 at 7:27 am PST

PHOTOS: KIRO 7 Cares Toy Drive Telethon 2025

PHOTOS: KIRO 7 Cares Toy Drive Telethon 2025

December 05, 2025 at 7:50 am PST

Photos: Steve Cropper through the years

Photos: Steve Cropper through the years

December 04, 2025 at 3:56 am PST

DoorDash customer says driver sprayed ‘irritant substance’ on delivery; sheriff investigates

Skydiver dangles from plane’s tail when reserve parachute accidentally deploys

Fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore charged

College Football bowl schedule: When are the games, what teams are playing?

Former NBA player Jason Collins says he has Stage 4 glioblastoma