Oil spews out of large pipeline onto Wilmington street

Amy Powell Image
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Oil spews out of large pipeline onto Wilmington street
Video captured the moment oil spewed out of a large pipeline from a production facility onto a Wilmington street Saturday afternoon.

WILMINGTON, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Video captured the moment oil spewed out of a large pipeline from a production facility onto a Wilmington street Saturday afternoon.

The incident was reported just before 2 p.m. in the 600 block of East Anaheim Street.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said when firefighters arrived, they discovered a 20-inch pipe that was leaking an apparent petroleum product onto the street. Firefighters were able to stop the flow soon after to protect storm drains and waterways. The used dirt berms to help stop it.

"Fortunately, the flow was quickly shut down. No injury. No fire. No evacuation," read a post on X published by LAFD Public Information Officer Erik Scott. "Situation is static. Waiting on clean up crews from the refinery. Minimal footprint."

On Saturday evening, officials said the oil spill ended up running off into the streets and storm drains. There are reports of oil sheens in the Wilmington marina and just offshore.

The state's Spill Prevention and Response Team is now looking into the environmental impact. The private contractor responsible for the pipeline will reportedly also be responsible for clean-up efforts