Fuel barge runs aground near Washington state park

A barge broke loose in rough seas and ran aground on rocky bluffs Saturday night near the mouth of the Columbia River, raising concerns that it could spill up to 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel near a Washington state park and popular tourist beaches.

U.S. Coast Guard and state Department of Ecology (DOE) officials set up a command post near the southwestern tip of Washington state, where the barge Millicoma was stranded in a shallow cove near the North Head lighthouse.

There was no evidence of any fuel spill as of yesterday afternoon, said DOE spokeswoman Sandy Howard. The barge, used to haul fuel, didn't have any cargo when it broke loose but is equipped with an internal fuel tank with a 5,000-gallon capacity.

High waves and wind were making it difficult to get near the barge, Howard said.

The accident is unfolding in an area rich with wildlife and historic landmarks, and a spot popular with tourists at nearby Long Beach, Pacific County. The area is home to large numbers of shorebirds, wintering waterfowl, razor clams and bald eagles. Cape Disappointment State Park also is nearby. Officials at the state park declined to comment yesterday.

The barge wasn't found until yesterday morning. It was one of two barges being pulled by the tug Howard Olsen, which belongs to Foss Maritime.

The company has contacted two oil-spill-cleanup companies, and one was sending a response team to the site in case of a spill, according to a news release issued by government and company officials.

Warren Cornwall: 206-464-2311 or wcornwall@seattletimes.com