California Declares State of Emergency Over Chemical Tank Threat in Orange County
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County due to a hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County on Saturday in response to a hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove. The declaration mobilizes state resources to support local responders and provides state-owned properties to shelter the approximately 40,000 residents ordered to evacuate the area.
"The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority," Newsom stated. "We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe."
The incident began on Thursday when a storage tank containing 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate at the GKN Aerospace facility started off-gassing and showed signs of potential failure. Methyl methacrylate is a highly flammable chemical used in the production of resins and plastics.
Efforts by firefighters to cool the tank by dousing it with water have been unsuccessful, as the internal temperature has continued to rise, reaching 90°F—13 degrees higher than the previous day. Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey noted that the temperature appears to be increasing by about 1 degree per hour.
Emergency responders are preparing to contain the contents in the event of a spill and mitigate health risks should an explosion occur. Covey emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us."
Authorities are consulting with experts nationwide to develop additional strategies to avert the disaster. Residents are urged to follow evacuation orders and stay informed through official channels as the situation develops.