A Russian tanker that brought fuel to iced-in Nome is heading back to open water -- once it gets through miles of sea ice. Coast Guard spokesman Adam De Rocher said its icebreaker, Healy, and the tanker Renda were about 100 miles south of Nome on Sunday. He said they left the town on Alaska's western coast on Friday.

The icebreaker led the Renda to Nome by cutting a path through Bering Sea ice, allowing the delivery of 1.3 million gallons of fuel. Nome would have run out by spring after a November storm prevented its last pre-winter fuel delivery.

Once the Renda hits open water, it will head for Russia. The Healy will go to Dutch Harbor to drop off supplies before heading home to Seattle.