10,000 gallons of oil on L.A streets after pipeline breaks

Thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled onto the streets of Los Angeles when an above-ground oil line broke.

NBC News reported than an area of about half a mile was affected, at least.

The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to USA Today that the spill originated in the West Glendale area, and in some places the oil was knee-deep. A handful of businesses were affected and two people were sent to the hospital. Four others complained of respiratory difficulties and were evaluated but not hospitalized.

Initial reports indicated that since the spill was first reported at 1 a.m. local time on Thursday, the amount of gallons decreased as clean-up advanced, from 1 million gallons to 50,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons, which was the last number reported. Most of the oil had been cleaned up by daybreak.

While it is still unclear who owned the pipeline, officials say there is no immediate evidence to suggest that any oil entered the storm drains that empty into the Los Angeles River.