Evacuation orders are still in effect for over 40,000 residents near Garden Grove, California. The concern surrounds an industrial site with an unstable tank holding toxic chemicals.
On Saturday, aerial footage showed water being sprayed onto the tank at GKN Aerospace. The Orange County fire officials stated that although the risk of a major explosion from the unstable tank is reduced, a smaller explosion could still happen.
“The crisis is not averted,” said TJ McGovern, the interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority. He stressed that despite decreased immediate danger, evacuation zones remain active.
In an interview with KTLA, Mr. McGovern explained that the tank might still leak or explode but not as initially feared. Thus, evacuation orders remain for the residents while authorities determine safety measures.
Authorities mentioned that a crack in the tank continues to relieve pressure and noted a decrease in internal temperatures. Firefighters have been hosing down the two-decade-old tank and removed insulation to speed up cooling efforts.
State Senator Thomas J. Umberg, representing the evacuated area, commented, “The trajectory is headed in the right direction for the first time since Thursday.” Nonetheless, he acknowledged residents’ desire to return home, emphasizing that safety is the priority.
Firefighters originally responded on Thursday to the GKN Aerospace site, where a tank with approximately 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate was releasing gas due to overheating. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this chemical can cause eye and skin irritation and difficulties in breathing. It has also been linked to birth defects in animal studies.
Evacuation orders were issued on Friday as the tank’s temperature and pressure elevated, indicating a possible explosion risk. By Sunday, officials indicated that the tank had cracked, reducing internal pressure and lowering temperatures from 100 to 93 degrees.
“The crack is there,” confirmed Craig Covey, an incident commander with the fire authority. “We have verified that it’s there, and the tank has released its pressure.”
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating GKN Aerospace, a UK-based manufacturer producing components for aircraft.
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