Efforts are underway to stabilize damaged chemical tanks at a Southern California facility where tens of thousands of people have been ordered to leave their homes.
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Evacuation centers remain open Southern California Authorities were working Saturday to cool an overheated chemical tank and prevent it from exploding less than a mile from two Disneyland theme parks.
No injuries were reported Thursday after a pressurized tank in Garden Grove overheated and began releasing steam, according to the Orange County Fire Department. As of Friday evening, evacuation orders had been issued to 40,000 people and multiple shelters were open, including three high schools.
Orange County Fire Chief Craig Covey said the main concern is that the tank could fail and rupture, releasing chemicals to the ground, or could explode. The tank is housed at GKN Aerospace, which makes components for commercial and military aircraft. The tank holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts.
Covey said drones were monitoring the temperature of the tanks, and by Friday evening efforts to cool them were working.
“I can’t stand by and watch this thing blow up or fail. That’s unacceptable to me,” Covey said in an update posted on social media. “Our team is going to do whatever it takes to come up with a third, fourth, fifth option, not that, that’s not a failure, and we can get all of you home as quickly as possible. I ask you to continue to be patient.”
These include asking the public not to call 911 for non-emergency issues. In particular, suggestions for solving the problem, Covey said
“I know everyone thinks they’re going to give us some really good ideas on how to solve this problem,” he said. “While we really appreciate the intent, trust me, I have the best people around me working on the solution.”
Initially, Garden Grove residents were ordered to leave. On Friday, the evacuation order was expanded to include some residents in five other Orange County cities — Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.
Garden Grove is about 38 miles (61 kilometers) south of downtown Los Angeles and less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks, which are not under evacuation orders. The city is known for its vibrant Vietnamese community and is one of the largest cities in the United States. Local Vietnamese television translated the latest news from officials and urged residents to take the situation seriously.
Covey said crews used sandbags to create containment barriers to prevent toxic chemicals from entering storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill.
If a chemical heats up, it can release vapors that are harmful to people’s health. Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said it can cause respiratory problems, eye itching and burning, nausea and headaches.
Crews were initially successful and were able to destroy one of the two damaged tanks, but Covey said they determined Friday morning that the remaining tanks were “in greatest crisis.”
GKN Aerospace said in a statement that it was “fully focused on working with emergency services, specialist hazardous materials teams and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees and others involved.”
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