The oil washed ashore in a sandy bay near Refugio Beach Campground in the afternoon,  Noozhawk, a Santa Barbara area news website, reported.

An overhead picture from the US Coast Guard shows oil flowing into the ocean:

And officials photographed the oil washing up onto the rocky shore new the campground.

The oil slick, as viewed from the shore.
The oil slick, as viewed from the shore.
Image: Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP

Campers were wading through the spill, trying to capture oil-covered wildlife, Noozhawk said.

Campers try to rescue an oil-covered bird on Refugio beach. It later swam back into the ocean.
Campers try to rescue an oil-covered bird on Refugio beach. It later swam back into the ocean.
Image: Noozhawk/Lara Ann Cooper
Noozhawk/Lara Ann Cooper
Noozhawk/Lara Ann Cooper

Refugio beach and the adjoining campground were quickly closed. Santa Barbara officials warned that nearby El Capitan Beach may also be shut. Refugio is a popular camping spot, and was reportedly fully-booked for the coming Memorial Day weekend holiday.

Plains All-American has not yet commented on the spill.

A 1969 oil spill near Santa Barbara that left a hundred-mile slick of crude is widely cited as one of the key events that gave rise to the US environmental movement.

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