{"id":330089,"date":"2026-05-24T03:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T03:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330089\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T03:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T03:50:10","slug":"explosion-would-cause-significant-damage-around-garden-grove-plant-blast-zone-map-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330089\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosion would cause significant damage around Garden Grove plant, blast zone map shows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If the failing chemical tank in Orange County does explode<\/a>, the aerospace plant where it sits and dozens of homes surrounding it could suffer severe damage, according to a map released by authorities Saturday. <\/p>\n

Areas within roughly 1,100 feet of the tank would suffer severe damage; and beyond that, areas within about 0.3 miles, moderate damage; and beyond that, areas within about 0.4 miles, light damage, from the blast. <\/a> <\/p>\n

Officials have stressed they are working<\/a> to avoid an explosion and are trying to keep the chemical inside the damaged tank at the aerospace facility as cool as possible. They said they have received help from experts nationally to come up with alternatives plans. Nothing specific, however, has been mentioned.<\/p>\n

Areas within the severe blast zone represent \u201careas where we can expect severe structural damage and significant harm,\u201d said Nick Freeman, an Orange County Fire Authority division chief. There are dozens of homes in that area in a neighborhood of the city of Stanton, including along Santa Rosalia Street, south of Laurelton Avenue and north of Lampson Avenue. <\/p>\n

In the moderate blast zone, \u201cwe would expect again structural damage and harm to those within that zone,\u201d Freeman said. <\/p>\n

There is understandable concern about an explosion as one of the possible outcomes. OCFA Division Chief Nick Freeman and Dr. CK, the Orange County Health Officer, provide an operational and health care perspective on the evacuation zones that account for that possibility. pic.twitter.com\/cesHDsMcgY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) May 23, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

The light damage zone includes Wakeham Elementary School and a Home Depot on the corner of Chapman Avenue and Beach Boulevard. \u201cThere, we might see some structural damage, but it would be a little bit more limited,\u201d Freeman said. <\/p>\n

The map also showed oblong shapes above the tank site. The area in red showed \u201careas of flammability where we could have fire or flash fire in those zones,\u201d Freeman said. The large orange oblong zone \u201crepresents areas that are immediately dangerous to life and health, where it would cause injury if anybody inhales or is impacted by the product in question.\u201d<\/p>\n

And a larger yellow zone is an area where the chemical can be smelled, but at nontoxic levels. <\/p>\n

The question, experts say, is whether officials can somehow deal with the dangerous chemicals in a way that does not end in a blast or the type of spill that causes environmental degradation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working nationally with experts all across the country trying to find the third solution,\u201d Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen told The Times. \u201cMaybe, if possible, the third solution could be to contain the liquid and freeze or maybe turn it into a solid, we don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric Licas contributed to this report.<\/p>\n