Orange County on Alert as Toxic Chemical Tank Crack Threatens Explosion, Triggers Mass Evacuations

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as several thousands of people in Garden Grove in Orange County are under evacuation orders.

Governor Newsom said an emergency has been declared for Orange County as the crews continue to work on local response efforts following a “hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility.”

A tank containing roughly 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a toxic and volatile chemical that is used to manufacture plastics and resins, is at risk of exploding in Garden Grove, according to a BBC News report.

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) on May 24 confirmed that a “potential crack in the tank” was found that “could potentially be relieving some of the pressure” inside the tank.

In a video shared on social media, Interim Fire Chief for the OCFA, TJ McGovern, said that a team of firefighters had conducted a “successful operation” at night where they could visualize the tank. The team has been working on containing the crack based on that information, he said.

He said the operation was a “step in the right direction.”

There were concerns that the crack would potentially develop into a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion), which is a catastrophic explosion that happens when a pressurized vessel containing liquid ruptures, resulting in a massive fireball.

Later that day, McGovern announced that his team would conduct an all-night mission to confirm that the pressure in the tank had been released and that the BLEVE threat had been eliminated.

“We are not there yet,” he said.

He, however, reminded residents to stay out of the area and stay in evacuation zones to ensure that the firefighters can run the operation.

Responding to reports of multiple cracks on the tank, the OCFA shared on X that there was “one known crack” as well as “peeling of the weather stripping on the exterior.”

Clarifying that there was no active leak, the department said crews are continuously monitoring atmospheric conditions to confirm chemical leaking.

Citing Division Chief Craig Covey, the Orange County fire incident commander, NBC News reported that if the tank explodes, it could set off an explosion in a nearby 15,000-gallon tank and a 4,500-gallon tank that also contains methyl methacrylate.

Officials are also concerned about the possibility of the tank’s rupture releasing hazardous materials into the water.

Mass Evacuations Issued

Around 50,000 people are under evacuation orders, according to NBC News.

An initial evacuation order was issued on May 21, which has been reissued several times over the past few days to add more areas.

Authorities have opened several evacuation centers to offer shelter to those who have been forced to evacuate their homes in the surrounding areas.

The California State Transportation Agency, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol (CHP), and local agencies are supporting evacuation and sheltering operations for displaced residents, Governor Newsom said in a statement on Sunday.

The Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa is offering temporary RV parking support for evacuees, according to the governor’s office.

Offering an update to the state’s emergency response to the incident, Governor Newsom said over 785 state and local first responders and emergency personnel are assisting public safety, evacuations, sheltering operations, environmental monitoring, and community assistance efforts.

Assuring the public that there is “no known leak of chemicals on the ground or in the air,” the governor’s office said that 24 state scientists, toxicologists, and engineers, along with 20 real-time air monitoring devices, have been tracking the air quality.

Additionally, 170 firefighters, three specialized hazmat teams, and 30 CHP officers have been deployed to monitor the situation and maintain public safety.