Boat Runs Aground Causing Diesel to Spill Into Petaluma River

A boat ran aground on the Petaluma River causing diesel fuel to  spill into the water on Friday night, fire officials said.

Fire crews were dispatched around 8 p.m. to assist the 32-foot  trawler that was leaning on its side in the mud on the banks of the Petaluma  River near the McNear Peninsula, with diesel oil spilling into the river.

The owners of the vessel told fire officials that they had come to  attend the Rivertown Revival festival Saturday in Petaluma, but had not  planned for the tide to go out, stranding the boat in the mud and causing the  vessel to tilt on its left side, causing a minor diesel spill.

Fire officials deployed an absorbing boom around the vessel and  placed absorbing pads inside the perimeter of the boom.

About two to three gallons of diesel were spilled, fire officials  said.

Fire officials notified the California Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Emergency Services.

-Bay City News