[Update: Mon., May 11, 2026, 5:35pm] The U.S. Coast Guard released new details about Monday morning’s fire on Platform Habitat off the coast of Summerland, saying that flames were extinguished by 11:40 a.m. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
Platform Habitat is in the process of decommissioning its 20 shut-in wells, which was supposed to have started in late 2025, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
When active, the platform was used to extract natural gas, not oil. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, “There are currently no indications of oil being released from the platform into the water and no current impacts to wildlife or the public.”
A crew of 26 members, working on decommissioning the platform, were on board when the flames broke out and were all evacuated. Two sustained minor injuries. There were no injuries sustained by firefighting crews.
The interagency response included personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard Southwest, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and Channel Islands Districts, as well as Ventura County and City Fire Departments, Santa Barbara County and City Fire Departments, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Marine Spill Response Corporation.
“The safety of personnel and protection of the environment remain the Unified Command’s highest priorities,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Marler, chief of incident management division for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach.
[Update: Mon., May 11, 2026, 3:25pm] The fire that broke out around 6:30 a.m. Monday morning on Platform Habitat off the coast of Summerland has been secured, and personnel have been transported to the platform to conduct safety inspections. The 1,000-yard safety zone is still in effect.
There were two minor injuries to members of Platform Habitat’s crew during the evacuation process and no injuries to any of the fire crews, including teams from Ventura and Santa Barbara County fire departments, or private boats that were contracted out to fight the fire. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
[Original Story] Flames broke out on Platform Habitat about eight miles off the coast of Summerland on Monday around 7 a.m. Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Ventura County Fire are currently responding to the blaze.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, all 26 crew members aboard the platform have been safely evacuated. There has been no cause of the flames released at this point.
There is currently a 1,000-yard safety zone in place around the platform.
Platform Habitat was set to start its decommissioning process with the capping of its 20 shut-in wells at the end of 2025, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
