California Officials Order Evacuations Near Aerospace Plant Over Chemical Tank

Firefighters responded Thursday to vapor escaping from the tank at the GKN Aerospace manufacturing site in Garden Grove, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. The chemical, methyl methacrylate, is used in plastics manufacturing and is described by officials as highly volatile, toxic, and flammable.

On Friday, officials expanded the evacuation orders after determining that the tank remained in crisis and could not be secured. They stated there was no active gas leak or plume at that time, but warned the tank could fail and release 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of the chemical or enter thermal runaway and explode.

The orders affected roughly 40,000 people.

More than a dozen schools closed, and nearby schools canceled outdoor activities. An earlier evacuation order issued Thursday had been lifted when conditions briefly improved before being reinstated and expanded. Orange County Fire Authority crews directed water at the tank to lower its temperature.

Officials said the cooling efforts were buying time while crews worked through the night to determine how to resolve the situation. Another update was scheduled for Saturday morning.

Short-term exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause skin and eye irritation as well as breathing problems, according to the EPA. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said it is monitoring the incident and has deployed personnel to assist local responders. Officials have not said when residents will be allowed to return.