Photos: Huntington Beach oil spill

Crews raced Sunday morning to contain the damage from a major oil spill off the Orange County coast that left crude spoiling beaches, killing fish and birds and threatening local wetlands.

The oil slick is believed to have originated from a pipeline leak, pouring 126,000 gallons into the coastal waters and seeping into the Talbert Marsh as lifeguards deployed floating barriers known as booms to try to stop further incursion, said Jennifer Carey, Huntington Beach city spokesperson.

At sunrise Sunday, oil was on the sand in some parts of Huntington Beach with slicks visible in the ocean as well.

"We classify this as a major spill, and it is a high priority to us to mitigate any environmental concerns," Carey said. It's all hands on deck."