Southern California officials trying to prevent explosion or leak from damaged chemical tank
Firefighters said a potential crack may reduce pressure as crews cool the tank and monitor air quality, with about 50,000 residents evacuated.
- On Friday, authorities ordered more than 50,000 residents in Garden Grove to evacuate their homes after a GKN Aerospace chemical storage tank began overheating. The compromised tank contains volatile methyl methacrylate, posing a risk of explosion.
- Specialists identified a "potential crack" in the 7,000-gallon tank Saturday night that might be relieving pressure and reducing explosion risks, as firefighters managed temperatures that reached 90°F on Saturday.
- Multiple schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District and Westminster School District remain closed until further notice, with officials pivoting to distance learning for Tuesday and Wednesday. High school graduations scheduled for Tuesday are expected to proceed as planned.
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated on Sunday that a "low-volume release" is the most likely scenario, allowing authorities to monitor and contain the threat. Law firms have launched class-action lawsuits seeking accountability for residents facing property disruption and health risks.
- Governor Gavin Newsom requested a federal emergency declaration on Sunday to support response operations. U.S. Rep. Derek Tran called for a "deep investigation" into safety protocols at the facility, which paid about $900,000 to settle environmental violations in 2021.
276 Articles
276 Articles
US strikes Iran again; California chemical threat keeps thousands out
Fighting between the U.S. and Iran flares up again, putting new strain on efforts to end the conflict. Plus, the biggest danger from a chemical emergency in Southern California appears to be backing off. But thousands of people still can't return home as crews monitor a troubled tank for any new problems. And President Donald Trump heads back to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for another “routine annual” checkup — his third in a li…
California chemical tank blast danger 'fades'
Experts trying to prevent a tank holding a highly toxic and flammable chemical from exploding in Southern California found a "potential crack" in the container that might be reducing the pressure, a fire official said on Sunday. Since Friday, officials have warned that the tank, which contains methyl methacrylate, a chemical used in plastics and manufacturing, could rupture and spill up to 7,000 gallons (26,500 liters) of toxic material or explo…
50,000 Evacuated. One faulty valve. What is methyl methacrylate — and what does it do to you?
When firefighters arrived at the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue last Thursday afternoon, they found a 34,000-gallon storage tank overheating with no clear way to stop it. Inside: approximately 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly toxic, flammable, and volatile industrial chemical used to manufacture acrylic glass and aircraft components.
Overheating chemical tank in California no longer at risk of exploding, fire officials say
Firefighters contending with a dangerously overheating industrial tank of a hazardous chemical in Southern California have eliminated the possibility of the tank exploding after a crack relieved some of the mounting pressure, they said on Monday.
The risk of a catastrophic chemical tank explosion in California has been eliminated, officials say
A crack has relieved some pressure in a damaged chemical tank and the temperature of the highly flammable gas inside is continuing to fall, leading authorities to say Monday they believe the risk of a catastrophic explosion has been eliminated. Nevertheless, an evacuation order remains in place for some 50,000 residents of nearby Garden Grove, [...]
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