California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday, May 23, as crews worked frantically to stop a tank filled with 7,000 gallons of a volatile chemical from exploding at an aerospace plant in Orange County.
The tank at the GKN Aerospace facility holds methyl methacrylate, a flammable liquid used to make plastics.
Officials say the tank is overheating and could fail at any time. Fire crews have been spraying it with water, but the temperature inside keeps climbing.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said teams are preparing for the worst, noting that the two scenarios being anticipated are that the tank could rupture and spill, or blow up.
The plant sits in Garden Grove, about five miles from Disneyland. The theme park remains open and outside the evacuation zone. The site is roughly 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
On Saturday, officials reported the tank’s internal temperature had reached 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).
It was rising by about 1 degree Fahrenheit per hour. Earlier on Friday, drone readings suggested the tank had cooled to around 16 degrees Celsius on the outside. But when crews got closer and checked the gauge, they found the inside much hotter.
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An inoperable valve has made things harder, and the cause of the problem remains under investigation.
Authorities have ordered thousands of residents to leave their homes. Local schools closed as a precaution.
Several major road exits were shut down to keep people out of the area. Shelters opened, including at the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center.
Covey made it clear that it was just a matter of when, and not if. “This is not precautionary,” he said on Friday. “This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when.”
Crews built dikes and dams around the site to contain any spill and keep chemicals from reaching storm drains or the ocean.
They also planned for a possible thermal runaway, a situation where the chemical reaction inside the tank spins out of control and causes an explosion. That could affect other nearby tanks holding fuel or additional chemicals.
Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned residents about the dangers, insisting that anyone who smells a “fruity and heavy” odor should call authorities right away.
She said that inhaling the vapors can irritate the eyes, cause breathing problems, and lead to dizziness, adding that people outside the one-mile evacuation zone should be safe for now.
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The facility is operated by GKN Aerospace, a UK-based company that supplies aircraft parts. The company has already apologized to the affected people and to all locals.
“The situation is ongoing, and we are fully engaged with emergency services, specialized hazardous material teams, as well as the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees, and everyone else involved,” the company said.
The GKN facility employs workers who build aircraft components. Company officials said all employees are safe and accounted for.
California’s Emergency Response System Put to the Test
This marks the latest test for California’s emergency response system. Residents described a tense night with sirens waking entire neighborhoods.
The evacuation covers homes, businesses, and schools within a one-mile radius. Officials urged calm but stressed the need to stay away from the area.
Chief Covey said they are trying to slow the chemical reactions causing the heat and pressure.
Health officials in California are actively monitoring those who may report symptoms. So far, no major injuries have been reported from the vapors.
GKN Aerospace has operated the Garden Grove plant for years. The company said it will cooperate fully with any investigation once the immediate threat passes.
