Platform Habitat caught fire Monday morning 7.8 miles off Santa Barbara...during decommissioning operations. They were tearing it down when a gas leak ignited.
Heavy fog grounded the helicopters. Fireboats came in from two counties and hit it with water cannons through the smoke. Coast Guard established a 1,000-yard safety zone.
- 26 workers pulled off the platform
- Fog grounded all aircraft...crew boats did the work
- Multiple fireboats responded...fire contained by 11am
- 2 minor injuries...everyone accounted for
- Platform built 1981...lease expired 2016... still being worked
The platform was owned by DCOR LLC and was in the middle of being permanently shut down when it caught fire.
No oil reported in the water.
Meanwhile the Trump administration is pushing to open California's Pacific coast to new offshore drilling for the first time since 1994.
The guys on that platform showed up to work a decommission job and ended up in the middle of a rescue operation. That's the oilfield. Every day is different and none of them are guaranteed.
Stay safe out there.