A damaged chemical storage tank causing alarm due to the risk of explosion or rupture is increasingly concerning authorities in Southern California. Despite efforts to cool its internal temperature, the tank continues to warm, according to a fire chief’s statement on Saturday.
No injuries have been reported since the tank started overheating and venting vapors on Thursday at a Garden Grove company site. As a precaution, evacuation orders affected around 40,000 residents, with several shelters remaining open, including at three high schools. Officials have yet to determine when residents can safely return to their homes.
Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey initially claimed progress in cooling the tank but later clarified that drone measurements had indicated readings only on the tank’s exterior. Covey expressed concern, noting that cooling the tank is crucial due to the chemical’s flashpoint at 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County’s health officer, warned that released vapors might pose health risks, potentially causing respiratory issues, eye irritation, nausea, and headaches.
Emergency crews began manually inspecting the tank’s temperature late Friday. Unfortunately, the temperature reached 90 degrees, up from 77 degrees earlier. It increased approximately one degree per hour, raising fears of tank failure and potential chemical spillage or explosion due to pressure buildup.
Prepared containment barriers are poised to prevent chemical leaks into storm drains or nearby water bodies, should the tank’s contents spill. Professor Andrew Whelton from Purdue University emphasized the urgent need to manage the crisis, hinting the preferable scenario would involve leakage on the ground and public warnings on protective measures.
The troubled tank sits within GKN Aerospace, a manufacturer of parts for commercial and military aircraft. It holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used in producing plastic components.
Covey confirmed the tank’s valves were malfunctioning, complicating safe removal of the chemical and relief of pressure. GKN Aerospace, in a statement, reiterated its commitment to community and employee safety alongside cooperative responses.
Evacuation affects Garden Grove residents as well as those from five other Orange County cities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster. Some residents opted to use their cars for overnight stays, while Marco Solano, a local, expressed frustration over the precarious situation, remarking that hazardous chemicals should not be in residential areas.
Solano, who suffers from anemia and ulcerative colitis, reported feeling unwell due to stress from the evacuation scenario. His tiredness, weakness, and members of his community who had yet to evacuate added to his worries.
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County. This declaration facilitates the provision of state resources to assist local agencies and allows the use of state-owned properties as shelters for evacuees. The incident unfolds approximately 38 miles (61 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles and near Anaheim’s Disneyland theme parks, which have not been ordered to evacuate.