A fuel spill prompted San Diego County health officials to close Silver Strand State Beach as the first weekend of the summer approaches.
The water contact closure was issued for the beach's shoreline due to a diesel fuel spill, county Department of Environment Health (DEH) officials said.
DEH said they have not determined how much fuel has spilled or exactly where it came from.
They said their crews noticed an oil sheen and odor from the shoreline and a United States Coast Guard chopper spotted it from above.
Because DEH believed it could impact beachgoers, the water contact closure was instated and contamination warning signs were put up.
Residents should avoid going into the water until the signs are removed, DEH said. There was no time frame as to when the beach would reopen.
Beaches on the strand have been closed several times due to contaminated runoff from the Tijuana River Estuary, especially in periods of heavy rain.
Local
DEH crews monitor Silver Strand State Beach and other San Diego County beaches on a weekly basis to ensure water quality is safe.
