On Friday, Southern California authorities were urgently working to prevent a storage tank containing hazardous chemicals from exploding. The tank, which has been leaking, prompted evacuation orders for approximately 40,000 people in the vicinity.
The tank, holding between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons (22,700 and 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, overheated on Thursday, releasing vapors into the air at an aerospace plastics facility in Garden Grove, Orange County, according to the county’s fire authority. Garden Grove Fire Chief Craig Covey indicated on Friday that the tank was at risk of cracking and releasing chemicals onto the ground or potentially exploding.
“This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” Covey stated. “We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it.”
Residents in Garden Grove were instructed to evacuate, and the orders were extended on Friday to parts of five other Orange County cities—Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster—after overnight efforts failed to stop the leak at GKN Aerospace, a manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft parts.
Officials reported no injuries or fatalities.
Later on Friday, Covey mentioned that the temperature of the tank had been stabilized, providing additional time to address the problem.
Garden Grove is located about 38 miles (61 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles and is less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not subject to evacuation orders on Friday. The city is notable for its large Vietnamese community, one of the most significant in the United States.
Danny Pham recounted being awakened around 7 a.m. on Friday by his roommate, who insisted he evacuate immediately. Pham, who had been working late at a Vietnamese restaurant, was unaware of the situation.
Jeff GritchenJeff Gritchen/The Orange County
“It was shocking to me,” said Pham, who resides just a couple of blocks from the plastics plant. “I didn’t know how serious it would be. I never knew that a thing like this could happen.”
He quickly left, taking only his wallet and passport, and sought refuge at a friend’s restaurant in a nearby city.
By late Friday afternoon, Pham was still uncertain about his accommodations for the night, worrying that he might have to manage with just the clothes he was wearing for several days.
Covey mentioned that crews have set up containment barriers using sandbags to prevent any chemical spills from reaching storm drains, creeks, or the nearby ocean.
Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the county health officer, warned that if the chemical heats up, it could release harmful vapors, causing respiratory issues, eye irritation, nausea, and headaches.
While crews initially managed to neutralize one of two damaged tanks, Covey noted that by Friday morning, the remaining tank was considered to be in the most critical condition.
GKN Aerospace reported that specialized hazardous material teams are evaluating the situation.
“There are no reports of injuries at this time and our priority remains the safety of our employees, responders, and the surrounding community,” a company spokesperson stated in an email. “We will provide verified updates as soon as more information becomes available.”
Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP
Kim Yen, a retiree in Garden Grove, was preparing for bed on Thursday when an alert on her phone instructed her to leave her home, located just two blocks from the chemical leak.
As Yen drove to her daughter’s residence in Seal Beach, she worried that members of the local Vietnamese community might not understand the evacuation alert if it was only in English.
“They are family,” she said. “I’m hoping they stay alert and listen to the news and the authorities. This is scary.”
Returning to her house briefly on Friday morning to collect important documents and medications, Yen found her neighborhood deserted and was reassured by police officers ensuring everyone had evacuated.
“We understand that this is frightening,” Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein stated. “But the evacuation orders are in place for your safety.”
Local Vietnamese television stations provided translations of official updates and encouraged residents to take the situation seriously.
Rodriguez reported from San Francisco, Rush from Portland, Oregon, and Schoenbaum from Salt Lake City.
