{"id":330949,"date":"2026-05-24T22:59:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T22:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330949\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T22:59:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T22:59:22","slug":"crack-in-unstable-california-chemical-tank-may-reduce-explosion-risk-official-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/330949\/","title":{"rendered":"Crack in unstable California chemical tank may reduce explosion risk, official says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Firefighters have found a potential crack that may be relieving pressure inside a massive tank filled with a toxic chemical, a development an official described as a step in the right direction<\/a>, as thousands remain under evacuation orders due to the threat of an explosion.<\/p>\n

If the discovery is confirmed, it could alter the response strategy and lead to a scaling back of the evacuation area as crews work to prevent a potentially catastrophic explosion in Southern California.<\/p>\n

About 50,000 people in Orange County have been advised to evacuate as of Sunday, with many spending the Memorial Day weekend in shelters, hotels or with friends and family outside the danger zone. Busy tourist destinations like Disneyland and Knott\u2019s Berry Farm are nearby but are not included in the evacuation zone.<\/p>\n

The chemical inside the tank, methyl methacrylate, or MMA, can cause respiratory issues and irritation to the skin and eyes upon exposure, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur firefighters went in, and they were able to visualize the tank. What they found was a potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there,\u201d Orange County Fire Authority Interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern said Sunday.<\/p>\n

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McGovern said the discovery was \u201ca step in the right direction\u201d and asked the public for their patience.<\/p>\n

McGovern told CNN there is currently no leak or impact on air quality, adding that continuous air monitoring at the scene has shown readings remain within normal limits and nothing is currently escaping from the tank.<\/p>\n

The tank\u2019s temperature gauge has maxed out at 100 degrees, making it difficult to determine how much hotter conditions inside may actually be, McGovern said.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we know about the tank and what authorities are doing to prevent a potential disaster:<\/p>\n

Tank began to overheat Thursday<\/p>\n

Authorities first responded to GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove on Thursday for a vapor release from the tank, McGovern said Friday. One of the tanks at the facility had overheated and activated a relief valve and sprinklers to cool the tank, he said.<\/p>\n

But the valves on the tank were \u201cgummed up\u201d and the temperature inside has continued to rise, officials have said. Methyl methacrylate\u2019s \u201chappy place\u201d is 50 degrees, Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief and Unified Incident Commander Craig Covey said Friday, noting the increase in temperature could lead to a leak or explosion.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why authorities are trying to keep the tank as cool as possible, to keep the chemical reactions happening inside the tank stabilized, according to Elaine Bernal, a chemistry lecturer at California State University, Long Beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe happy place is to stabilize and really slow down that chain reaction from happening,\u201d Bernal told CNN.<\/p>\n

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin told CNN on Sunday \u201ca low-volume release, where the local authorities are going to be able to monitor, neutralize, and contain a threat\u201d is most likely.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, this is an emergency response,\u201d Zeldin said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t yet an environmental response, and the scale of that environmental response will be determined based off of what happens when that tank fails.\u201d<\/p>\n

Authorities were attempting Saturday to solidify the chemical inside the tank from the outside inward \u2014 a process Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi likened to an ice cube freezing. But he warned those efforts may not succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple things could happen. \u2026 The tank could crack and start spilling out all that 7,000 gallons of chemical, or there could be a catastrophic explosion,\u201d Concialdi told CNN Saturday, noting they are \u201cunsure\u201d of the exact temperature at which the tank could ignite or explode.<\/p>\n

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The fire authority released a blast zone map<\/a> Saturday outlining areas that could be impacted if the tank explodes. The map shows three rings around the facility representing zones of severe, moderate and light structural damage.<\/p>\n

\u201cLetting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us. Our goal is to find something and not allow that happen, not to let it damage our community, not let it damage our environment,\u201d Covey said.<\/p>\n

GKN apologized to evacuated residents and businesses in a statement<\/a> Sunday and said it is working with emergency services and hazardous materials teams \u201cto monitor the condition of the affected material and are working round the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are acutely aware of the uncertainty this incident is causing and sincerely apologise for the ongoing disruption to the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has submitted a request to President Donald Trump for an emergency declaration to support ongoing response operations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia doesn\u2019t wait for disaster to unfold, we act early to protect lives and communities,\u201d Newsom said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cWorking together with our local and federal partners, we\u2019re strengtheni ng our ability to respond quickly and effectively in Garden Grove and across the surrounding communities and ensuring that first responders have the resources they need to keep people safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced<\/a> an anonymous tip line and reporting form for anyone with information about the incident or what led to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the very real risk to human life as a result of this event, it is crucial that anyone who has information about this incident or the industrial operations of GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, Inc. come forward and report it so that it can be thoroughly investigated by law enforcement,\u201d Spitzer said Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People gather outside a shelter for evacuees in Fountain Valley, California, Saturday. – David Swanson\/Reuters<\/p>\n

Residents file class-action lawsuit against tank owner<\/p>\n

Two residents, a couple who live in the evacuation zone, filed a lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace, alleging the company negligently stored and handled MMA, which led to widespread disruptions for their community.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s extremely serious,\u201d attorney Filippo Marchino of the X-Law Group, who\u2019s leading the class-action suit, told CNN.<\/p>\n

\u201cAside from just being evacuated, everything that they know and love is inside their home. It\u2019s their place of refuge,\u201d Marchino said. \u201cSo being out of their home for an indefinite period of time, without any certainty of what\u2019s going to happen, is nerve-racking for them, for their neighbors, for their friends, for their families, for everybody that\u2019s part of that community.\u201d<\/p>\n

GKN Aerospace declined to comment on the lawsuit when asked by CNN Sunday.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit was filed as a proposed class action, and the couple are the lead plaintiffs. Marchino said roughly 100 to 120 other residents have already expressed interest in joining the case.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit claims the company\u2019s handling of the chemical created dangerous conditions that threatened public health and safety by creating an ongoing risk of fire, explosion, toxic chemical exposure and environmental contamination that affected tens of thousands of residents, businesses and schools near the facility.<\/p>\n

The couple, who have been camping since being evacuated from their home within the potential blast radius, say they have been dealing with displacement costs, fears about contamination and disruptions to the use of their home, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

Some residents reporting symptoms<\/p>\n

Exposure to MMA can cause nausea, dizziness and \u201csignificant irritation\u201d to the lungs and nasal passages, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said.<\/p>\n

The chemical can produce a fruit-like scent, although smelling it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ve gotten enough exposure to have symptoms, she said in another update.<\/p>\n

Officials said the chemical has not been detected in the air, but some residents said they\u2019ve experienced symptoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI forgot to close the window during the Thursday night, and I regret it,\u201d said Stanton resident Van Ly, who evacuated Friday. \u201cMy throat and the inside of my nose feel sore, and my wife felt dizzy Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miguel Loo, who lives with his fianc\u00e9e inside the evacuation zone in the city of Westminster, told CNN Saturday he and his fianc\u00e9e\u2019s mother had been experiencing headaches since Thursday.<\/p>\n

The EPA is leading air monitoring efforts as part of the unified command team, while the Orange County Health Care Agency is leading the public health response, the South Coast Air Quality Management District told CNN.<\/p>\n

In an update<\/a> Saturday evening, Harry Allen with the EPA said the agency had deployed 24 stationary monitors, which operate around the clock and have not picked up any contaminants.<\/p>\n

Evacuated residents flock to shelters<\/p>\n

Air should be safe outside the evacuation zone, said Chinsio-Kwong, urging people to leave the affected area.<\/p>\n

But about 15% of people \u2014 or about 6,000 residents \u2014 from the evacuation area had refused to leave, Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said Friday.<\/p>\n

Some school districts in the evacuation zone announced they would be moving to online learning. Garden Grove Unified School District said its 13 affected schools would remain closed \u201cuntil further notice,\u201d and district trustee Walter Muneton said the schools would shift to virtual learning.<\/p>\n

Westminster School District also said parents should be prepared to transition to online learning next week.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Kennedy High School in Anaheim cancelled its graduation on Friday and later rescheduled it for Tuesday, May 26.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A woman and a child walk outside a shelter Saturday in Fountain Valley, California. – David Swanson\/Reuters<\/p>\n

The Red Cross<\/a> on Saturday night opened a new shelter<\/a> at Golden West College in Huntington Beach as three others \u2013\u2013 one in Fountain Valley<\/a>, one in La Palma<\/a>, and another at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach<\/a> \u2013\u2013 neared capacity for overnight stays. A shelter at a high school in nearby Anaheim that is managed by another organization is also open for displaced residents<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Discounted rates at nearby hotels<\/a> over the holiday weekend were also being offered.<\/p>\n

The state of emergency allows California to deploy additional response resources and authorities, including using state-owned properties and fairgrounds as shelters for evacuees if needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople need to get out of their houses and get into a safe space because when this thing goes, depending on the wind direction it\u2019s going, we cannot control the weather,\u201d Covey said.<\/p>\n

Dawnedra Phillips, who lives in the evacuation zone, told CNN affiliate KABC she is taking warnings from officials seriously and staying at a shelter for evacuees in Cypress.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m waiting it out, \u2018cause here we have our community and we\u2019re supporting each other the best that we can with what we have going on right now,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cI don\u2019t care how old you are, it\u2019s going to harm you one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ju Pyo, her husband and three children ended up at another shelter in La Palma after being unable to find a hotel room for the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are the last family allowed to come in at this point. It was like 10:30 or 11 in the morning, so we are lucky,\u201d Pyo told KABC.<\/p>\n

Like Phillips, Pyo said they aren\u2019t taking chances and will wait until officials say it\u2019s safe to return home.<\/p>\n

Past inspection led to violation and settlement<\/p>\n

GKN Aerospace says its Garden Grove location is the \u201cworld\u2019s leading provider of military transparency systems and commercial aircraft transparencies.\u201d Aircraft transparency systems include<\/a> canopies, windshields and windows.<\/p>\n

Issues revealed in a November 2020 inspection at the Garden Grove facility led to a violation notice and GKN Aerospace paying nearly $1 million in a settlement.<\/p>\n

The inspection by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, or AQMD \u2013 a regional pollution control agency \u2013 determined the site had failed to maintain and keep required records documenting its VOC emissions, which produce poor air quality if they are released at harmful levels, according to the agency.<\/p>\n

Inspectors also found GKN had operated new equipment without securing a permit as well as existing equipment that did not match the description in the permit, the agency said. It also modified permitted equipment without applying for a permit change, which is required by the agency, the statement said.<\/p>\n

The company received two notices to comply \u2014 mandating fixes to the reported issues \u2014 in December 2020 and February 2021, the agency said, but it failed to comply. That led to a notice of violation in April 2021 and a civil penalty of roughly $900,000 paid by GKN, the agency said.<\/p>\n

\"Fire<\/p>\n

Fire trucks park in front of GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove on Saturday. – Mindy Schauer\/Orange County Register\/MediaNews Group\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Since the violation, the agency said it has been \u201cworking closely with GKN to help resolve these permitting issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two more notices to comply were issued to GKN in March of last year requesting operating records as well as applications for registering certain equipment and a change in facility ownership, said AQMD.<\/p>\n

When reached for comment on the previous violation and settlement, GKN reiterated its earlier statement about working to resolve the current situation at the facility that led to evacuations but did not address any previous issues.<\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Lauren Mascarenhas, Maria Prieto Aguilar, Amanda Musa, Karina Tsui, Rebekah Riess and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Firefighters have found a potential crack that may be relieving pressure inside a massive tank filled with a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":330950,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,137274,137275,11078,136494,74872,611,71209,65694,136842,135971],"class_list":["post-330949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-catastrophic-explosion","tag-chemical-reactions","tag-garden-grove","tag-gkn-aerospace","tag-lee-zeldin","tag-orange-county","tag-orange-county-fire-authority","tag-tank","tag-the-tank","tag-toxic-chemical"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=330949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/330949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/330950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=330949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=330949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=330949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}