Beaches Closed After Bunker Fuel Spill - ©ingridtaylar
Almost two years to the day after the Cosco Busan spill, hundreds of gallons of bunker fuel leaked into San Francisco Bay on Friday morning. As with Cosco Busan, details changed as the day went on, with reports ranging from five gallons to 100 gallons. Today’s news reports don’t add any clarity, although the best estimate right now seems to be 800 gallons. The biggest differences appear to be the volume of the spill and improved — although not perfect — response to the accident.
The San Francisco Chronicle posted details of this spill yesterday.
The oil is making its way to East Bay shores, with Alameda’s Crown Beach — one of my favorite spots to hang out with birds — hit the hardest so far. Rescuers have picked up dozens of oiled birds and found others already dead from the toxic fuel. Those most susceptible tend to be diving birds and ducks like grebes and scoters. They can dive into fresh water and not realize they’re surfacing in the middle of the fuel slick.
Hugh and I are Hazwoper certified (24-hour training) which means we can work with wildlife during oil spills. But right now, the only teams out there are official OWCN rescuers (Oiled Wildlife Care Network). These are wildlife workers with many more hours of experience than we have. They are the first responders in any such crisis, the very people who’ve trained us. Hugh and I will step in if and when volunteers with our particular training are needed . . . although with this level of spill, chances are we won’t be called.
I wrote a bit about our training and about the Cosco Busan spill in this post. I covered the 2007 spill here, in more detail, during my time at About.com: San Francisco.
Both Wildcare in Marin and IBRRC in Fairfield are set up to accept oiled birds as they’re found and rescued. (We were just at IBRRC last week to help with birds sickened by a massive algae bloom on the Oregon and Washington coasts.)
If you’re interested in the day-to-day procedures of collecting and treating oiled wildlife, I’d highly recommend the blog at OWCN. Nils and team have been keeping nearly daily tabs on the progress of rescue teams.
IBRRC also has a great blog I’ve referenced in these pages previously. You’ll read (among other things) about the hands-on, once birds reach the treatment facility in Fairfield.
How to Help – San Francisco Bay Oil Spill 2009
If you find oiled birds, please report them to OWCN: 877-823-6926.
If you see oiled birds, OWCN asks that you not try to rescue them — and stay back so they’re not spooked off the shores where they’ve come to get warmth and temporary sanctuary.
If you’d like to help, a number of organizations can always used donations in the face of these unnatural events.
- IBRRC (International Bird Rescue Research Center)
- Wildcare Marin
- Baykeeper (Advocate for San Francisco Bay Health)
Oil Boom Protecting San Leandro Marina - ©ingridtaylar
