Thousands Evacuated in Southern California Due to Failing Chemical Tank

AI Summary

About 40,000 people in Southern California have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to a failing chemical tank containing hazardous chemicals. The tank, located at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, holds up to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical.

The Evacuation Order

About 40,000 people in Southern California have been ordered to evacuate their homes as emergency responders race to prevent a large tank containing hazardous chemicals from leaking or exploding.

The Chemical Tank Failure

Residents in six Orange County cities were told to leave their homes on Friday after a storage tank containing up to 7,000 gallons (26,500 litres) of methyl methacrylate – a highly flammable chemical used in the production of plastics – began to fail the previous evening.

The Risks and Response

The tank is one of three located at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, about 49km (30 miles) from Los Angeles. GKN Aerospace manufactures parts for several aviation companies, including Airbus and Boeing. Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said the tank could either rupture, causing its contents to spill onto the ground and create a plume, or explode.

The Evacuation and School Closures

Firefighters were able to reduce the tank’s temperature from a safe distance, buying crews more time to stabilise the situation. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said more than 4,000 people had refused to evacuate. Local mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein urged those still in the area to leave immediately. More than a dozen schools have also been closed, with officials warning they don’t know how long the evacuation order will remain in place.