Key takeaways:
- A possible crack in a 7,000-gallon methyl methacrylate tank at GKN Aerospace may be relieving pressure, potentially reducing the risk of a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE).
- About 50,000 residents have been evacuated due to concerns over a chemical leak or explosion.
- Firefighters are conducting overnight operations to confirm pressure release and continue cooling efforts as the tank’s temperature exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Officials in Southern California are monitoring a 7,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove after identifying a possible crack that may be releasing pressure inside the tank. Interim Orange County Fire Chief TJ McGovern said Sunday that this development could alter emergency response strategies and potentially reduce the risk of a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE), a severe hazard feared by responders.
The tank holds methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical used in plastics manufacturing. Concerns about a possible explosion or leak prompted mandatory evacuation orders affecting roughly 50,000 residents, many of whom are staying in shelters.
“With this new information, it could change our trajectory and our strategy to this event,” McGovern said, noting that crews are validating whether the crack is relieving pressure. “If it is, the potential of a BLEVE is now off the table.”
Firefighters are conducting an overnight operation to confirm if pressure has been released and will provide an update Monday. McGovern emphasized that while the risk of a BLEVE could be eliminated if pressure is relieved, the threat of an explosion remains. If the BLEVE risk persists, the evacuation zone would need to be expanded; if not, crews would focus on cooling the tank.
The tank’s temperature has been rising steadily, reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit—more than double the substance’s “happy place,” according to Orange County Fire Authority incident commander Craig Covey. Despite cooling efforts using sprinklers and hose lines, temperatures continue to climb. Covey described the incident as “the most significantly dangerous event” he has encountered in his fire service career.
Two other tanks at the facility, holding 15,000 and 4,500 gallons of methyl methacrylate respectively, are also under observation but have been deemed structurally sound. Officials have expressed concern that an explosion in the 7,000-gallon tank could trigger blasts in nearby tanks and potentially release toxic chemicals into waterways.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is assisting with the response. FEMA reported that a malfunctioning valve on the tank remains unmitigated as the chemical reaction continues, without specifying whether this allows the reaction to proceed without neutralization.
Residents evacuated from nearby areas, including Lydia Green and Eugene Smith from Anaheim, have described the situation as difficult. Green said, “I’m feeling nervous, scared, devastated,” while Smith called the experience “like living in a nightmare,” fearing contamination of their homes.
Methyl methacrylate is a respiratory irritant that can cause lung, skin, and eye irritation, as well as nausea and dizziness, according to health experts cited by local media. Because its vapor is heavier than air, it tends to settle near the ground. Crews have used sandbags to contain potential spills and prevent contamination of storm drains and waterways.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County on Saturday and requested federal emergency assistance to support local response efforts. McGovern assured the public that officials are employing “outside-the-box thinking” to resolve the crisis and emphasized, “We have to get them back [home], but I will assure you we will not get them back until it’s safe to do so.”
No injuries or deaths have been reported. The cause of the leak remains under investigation.
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