More than 20 oil rig workers have been evacuated after a fire broke out on a platform off the Southern California coast.
The blaze ignited on Platform Habitat, nine miles off Carpinteria, early Monday morning as Harbor Patrol were seen trying to douse the flames.
Twenty-six staff were rushed to safety with two minor injuries reported, per the US Coast Guard’s X post.
The US Coast Guard said: “USCG, SB Harbor Patrol, SB County Fire, SB City Fire & Ventura County Fire are responding to a fire on platform HABITAT 7.5nm off Santa Barbara.
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“All 26 crew evacuated safely. A 1000 yard safety zone is in effect around the platform. Updates will be made as available.”
Petty Officer Kenneth Wiese, spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard, confirmed the blaze to the Los Angeles Times.
“There was and is a fire currently on board that’s being battled,” Wiese said.
Reports of a fire or possible explosion on Platform Habitat began around 7 a.m. Monday. By 11:30 a.m., the fire remained uncontained.
Photos from the U.S. Coast Guard show firefighting boats directing water on to the platform, which was covered in thick black and gray smoke by late Monday morning.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom remains in an active legal battle against the federal government to stop the restart of offshore oil drilling and pipeline operations managed by Sable Offshore Corp. near Santa Barbara.
Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed for an injunction in federal court, calling the order “illegal” and “reckless,” arguing it overrides state environmental protections.
“Sable lobbied the federal government for the illegal Wright Order as part of a campaign to short-circuit state environmental protection requirements, and Sable is now unlawfully transporting its oil through the Las Flores Pipelines,” Bonta said in a statement.
The order is in reference to President Trump’s March executive order to resume oil drilling operations off the Southern California coast, citing national energy security concerns.
Sable’s attorney told The Post it would still continue pumping oil.
“We hopefully will convince the court that the executive order obviously supersedes the state courts’ injunction,” Jeffrey Dintzer, attorney for Sable Offshore, said.
