California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as crews battle a potentially catastrophic chemical incident at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove. Officials confirmed a 7,000-gallon tank of methyl methacrylate—a highly volatile substance used to manufacture plastics—is at critical risk of failure after rising temperatures exceeded initial assessments.
Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey revealed the tank's internal temperature reached 90°F (32°C) on Saturday, climbing by approximately 1°F per hour. 'Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,' Covey emphasized during a tense press briefing, noting crews face two dire possibilities: a toxic spill or a thermal runaway explosion. The facility, operated by GKN Aerospace, is located just 5 miles from Disneyland but 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Over 1,000 residents have been evacuated as a precaution, with local schools closed and major road exits sealed. Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned that inhalation of methyl methacrylate vapors causes respiratory distress, eye irritation, and dizziness, urging residents to report 'fruity and heavy' odors immediately. 'Smelling it doesn't mean you've reached a level that causes symptoms, but we don't want you to smell that,' she stated.
Emergency teams are spraying water from drones and ground crews to cool the tank, though officials noted earlier drone measurements showed temperatures at 61°F (16°C) before internal gauge readings revealed the true danger. 'We're doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it,' Covey added, while engineers work to stabilize the tank and contain potential spills. An 'inoperable valve' is suspected to have contributed to the crisis.
Residents describe chaotic evacuation scenes: 'I was woken by sirens across our streets... then told they were evacuating,' shared Mark Olsen, who sought refuge at the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center. While Disneyland remains unaffected and open, the incident underscores urgent vulnerabilities in industrial chemical storage near residential communities. GKN Aerospace apologized for the disruption, stating they 'are fully focused on working with emergency services to ensure the safety of the local community.'}
Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey revealed the tank's internal temperature reached 90°F (32°C) on Saturday, climbing by approximately 1°F per hour. 'Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,' Covey emphasized during a tense press briefing, noting crews face two dire possibilities: a toxic spill or a thermal runaway explosion. The facility, operated by GKN Aerospace, is located just 5 miles from Disneyland but 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Over 1,000 residents have been evacuated as a precaution, with local schools closed and major road exits sealed. Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned that inhalation of methyl methacrylate vapors causes respiratory distress, eye irritation, and dizziness, urging residents to report 'fruity and heavy' odors immediately. 'Smelling it doesn't mean you've reached a level that causes symptoms, but we don't want you to smell that,' she stated.
Emergency teams are spraying water from drones and ground crews to cool the tank, though officials noted earlier drone measurements showed temperatures at 61°F (16°C) before internal gauge readings revealed the true danger. 'We're doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it,' Covey added, while engineers work to stabilize the tank and contain potential spills. An 'inoperable valve' is suspected to have contributed to the crisis.
Residents describe chaotic evacuation scenes: 'I was woken by sirens across our streets... then told they were evacuating,' shared Mark Olsen, who sought refuge at the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center. While Disneyland remains unaffected and open, the incident underscores urgent vulnerabilities in industrial chemical storage near residential communities. GKN Aerospace apologized for the disruption, stating they 'are fully focused on working with emergency services to ensure the safety of the local community.'}
