Barge fire causes small diesel spill in Bay Point

By Roman Gokhman
Contra Costa Times

A crew working to disassemble a barge along the waterfront in Bay Point on Tuesday evening cut through a fuel line, starting a fire and causing a small diesel spill.

Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Director Paul Andrews said it was not immediately clear how much fuel was spilled, though it is believed to be a very small amount because under bright lights, county officials could not see any sheen.

"Diesel is not quite as bad as bunker fuel," Andrews said, referring to the fuel preferred by many container shipping companies because of its relatively cheap cost. The Cosco Busan spilled 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel into the Bay in 2007, resulting in weeks of cleanup as the slick fouled miles of shoreline.

The fire was reported about 5:30 p.m. by a sheriff's deputy on patrol off McAvoy Road and was contained just after 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa fire dispatchers said.

County agencies requested containment booms from several agencies, Andrews said.

...Click here to see the full piece at the San Jose Mercury News.