Chemical Tank at California Aerospace Facility Could Fail or Explode, Forcing 40,000 to Evacuate
Chemical Tank at California Aerospace Facility Could Fail or Explode, Forcing 40,000 to Evacuate
A chemical tank at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove, California is in critical condition — and officials warn it will either rupture or explode. Around 40,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate.
What's Happening
Firefighters first responded Thursday to a vapor leak from a 34,000-gallon tank of methyl methacrylate — a highly flammable, toxic industrial chemical used in plastics — at GKN Aerospace, located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
By Friday, the leak had stopped, but the situation had worsened. The tank overheated and visibly bulged, a valve was damaged, and attempts to neutralize the chemical have failed. The chemical cannot be removed because of the broken valve.
Officials say only two outcomes are now possible.
"There are literally two options left remaining: one, the tank fails and spills 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot. Or two, the tank goes into thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks around it," said Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey.
The Evacuation
Evacuation orders — initially issued Thursday then lifted — were reissued and expanded Friday as the situation worsened. More than a dozen schools have closed, and nearby schools are canceling outdoor activities as a precaution. Officials have not said when residents will be able to return.
Covey was direct in his warning: "This is highly volatile, it's highly toxic, it's highly flammable. This is not precautionary. This thing is gonna fail — we don't know when."
What We Know About the Chemical
Methyl methacrylate is an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing. It is primarily a respiratory irritant and is highly flammable. Roughly 7,000 gallons remain in the tank.
The Response
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services has deployed personnel to assist local authorities and is urging residents to follow all evacuation orders.
ABC News has reached out to GKN Aerospace for comment.
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