Evacuations in California as chemical tank cools
U.S. officials scramble to cool an overheated chemical storage tank and prevent it from exploding near two Disneyland theme parks; because those living nearby are forced to evacuate the area.
No injuries were reported after the pressure tank overheated and began belching steam into Garden Grove on Thursday, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
Evacuation orders were issued for 40,000 people and several shelters, including three high schools, were opened Friday night.
Orange County Fire Marshal Craig Covey said the main concern is that the tank could fail and crack, spilling the chemical onto the ground or exploding.
The tank is owned by GKN Aerospace, which produces parts for commercial and military aircraft.
The tank contains 22,700 to 26,500 liters of methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts.
Drones monitored the tank’s temperature, and efforts to cool it Friday evening were working, Covey said.
“It’s not right for me to sit back and watch this thing blow up or fail. That’s not acceptable to me,” Covey said.
“Our group will do everything we can to find a third, fourth, fifth option that is not a failure, and we can get you all back home as quickly as possible. I ask you to continue to be patient.”
Covey said he appealed to the public not to call 911 for non-urgent problems, especially with suggestions for solving the problem.
“I know everyone thought they would give us some really good ideas on how to fix this,” he said.
“While we really appreciate the purpose of this, trust me, I have the best people working on solutions.”
Initially, residents of Garden Grove were ordered to leave.
Evacuation orders were expanded Friday to some residents of five other Orange County cities — Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.
Garden Grove is located about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks that are not under evacuation orders.
The city is known for its vibrant Vietnamese community, making it one of the largest cities in the United States.
Local Vietnamese television stations carried updates from authorities and urged residents to take the situation seriously.
Crews used sandbags to create containment barriers to prevent the toxic chemical from reaching storm drains or streams or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Covey said.
If the chemical heats up, it may release a vapor that is harmful to human health.
Orange County health officer Dr. It can cause breathing problems, itching and burning in the eyes, nausea and headaches, Regina Chinsio-Kwong said.
The crew was initially successful and managed to disable one of the two damaged tanks, but Covey said Friday morning they determined the remaining tank was in “crisis at its worst.”
In a statement, GKN Aerospace said it was “entirely focused on working with emergency services, specialist hazmat teams and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees and everyone involved.”
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