Evacuation orders are still enforced for a region affecting tens of thousands within the Garden Grove suburb near Los Angeles.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County and urged residents to comply with evacuation directives.
“We have brought in subject matter experts from all across the state to think completely outside the box, and we had some really good productive conversations today,” stated Craig Covey, division chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, in a social media video. However, he did not specify potential solutions.
SHIFT TO OFFENSIVE FROM DEFENSIVE AS RISK GROWS
Evacuation shelters in Anaheim, Fountain Valley, La Palma, and Huntington Beach have reported reaching full capacity.
Responders re-entered the danger area overnight after drone assessments on Friday indicated that water sprayed on the tanks was aiding in stabilizing the situation, Covey noted earlier. Upon reaching the tank’s gauge, crews discovered the internal temperature had risen to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) from 77 F (25 C) when they had initially retreated.
The temperature was rising by about one degree per hour, which Covey described as “the bad news.”
Officials cautioned that the tank, containing methyl methacrylate—a flammable chemical used in plastics and manufacturing—might rupture and release up to 26,500 liters of toxic material or explode, threatening nearby tanks.
On Saturday, Covey mentioned that firefighters were considering whether a heavy application of cooling water could slow the curing process inside the tank, thereby reducing pressure and preventing an explosion.
“Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,” Covey asserted.
The situation began on Thursday at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, a city with roughly 172,000 residents located about 50 km south of Los Angeles. The site specializes in manufacturing and testing windows and canopies for both commercial and military aircraft, according to its website.
GKN expressed its collaboration with “all relevant experts” to address the issue. “We sincerely apologise for the significant disruption to the many local residents and businesses who have had to be evacuated,” a GKN spokesperson stated.
Covey explained that crews transitioned from a “defensive” to an “offensive” strategy overnight, aided by chemists from the manufacturer’s emergency response team. The objective was to neutralize a nearby 15,000-gallon (56,780 liters) tank and lessen its explosive potential should the smaller tank fail.
“We did put people in harm’s way last night,” Covey admitted.
Health officials expressed concern that vapor from the chemical could cause severe respiratory problems with prolonged exposure. However, air-quality monitors had not detected any vapors as of the latest health update cited by officials.
“You are safe as long as you are out of the zone that was determined to be an evacuation zone,” Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong of the Orange County Health Care Agency assured on Friday.
Covey mentioned that crews were also preparing for a possible spill by exploring methods to dike, dam, and divert the liquid into a holding area at the commercial site, rather than allowing it to reach storm drains, river channels, or the ocean.
“We are not giving up,” Covey declared.
