Evacuation Orders Persist in Garden Grove Due to Chemical Tank Threat

Evacuation orders remain active for more than 40,000 residents in Garden Grove, California. This follows concerns about an unstable tank filled with a toxic chemical.

An aerial photograph shows water being sprayed onto a tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove. The image was captured on Saturday. Orange County fire officials declared on Monday that while a large-scale explosion threat had been averted, smaller explosion risks persisted.

“The crisis is not averted,” stated TJ McGovern, interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority, during a news conference. “Let me be clear. Evacuation zones are still in place. The threat is not eliminated.”

In a separate interview with KTLA, McGovern explained that the tank remains at risk of leaking or exploding, though not to the feared extent. Consequently, evacuation orders continue as local authorities determine when it might be safe for residents to return.

Authorities had reported a crack relieving pressure in the tank, leading to a temperature drop. By Sunday night, firefighters were observed removing insulation to expedite their efforts in cooling the 22-year-old tank after hosing it down.

“The trajectory is headed in the right direction for the first time since Thursday,” noted Thomas J. Umberg, a state senator for the evacuated area. He added, “The challenge now is that people want to get back in their homes and they can’t go back until it’s safe.”

Firefighters had responded to the industrial site belonging to GKN Aerospace on Thursday. A tank containing approximately 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate was increasing in pressure and releasing gas as it overheated.

The Environmental Protection Agency highlights that exposure to methyl methacrylate causes eye and skin irritation and breathing difficulties. Animal exposure can result in birth defects.

Evacuation orders were issued by local authorities as the tank temperature rose, and it began to bulge. By Sunday, officials confirmed that a crack in the tank had relieved some of the internal pressure, with temperatures dropping from 100 to 93 degrees.

“The crack is there,” verified Craig Covey, an incident commander with the fire authority, on Monday. “We have verified that it’s there, and the tank has released its pressure.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced it is investigating GKN, a British company producing jet engine parts, landing gear, and other components for military and civilian aircraft.