Thousands of residents in Southern California faced evacuation over the Memorial Day weekend as authorities scrambled to contain a hazardous chemical threat at an aerospace facility.
The crisis originated at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Orange County, where a damaged storage tank containing approximately 22,713 to 26,498 litres of methyl methacrylate, a chemical vital for plastic parts, overheated last week. This incident led to the release of vapours into the surrounding air.
Officials warned over the weekend that the compromised tank risked either fully discharging its 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of chemical or potentially exploding if the contents continued to heat. While no injuries have been reported, more than 50,000 residents were placed under an evacuation order. Firefighters have been relentlessly spraying the tank with water in a desperate bid to cool the chemicals and prevent a catastrophic explosion.
Methyl methacrylate is a flammable, colorless liquid used in the production of resins, plastics and plastic dentures and is a hazardous substance regulated by the federal government.
The substance can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin and in high doses can cause reduced lung function, along with dizziness and memory problems, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Air monitoring tests have so far found that air pollution around the evacuation zone is within normal limits.
The tank’s drainage valves are not functioning, officials said, leaving the issue of what to do with the chemical inside as threats of overheating linger. Without action, local authorities said there could be either a large chemical spill or an explosion.
Firefighters focused on keeping the temperature of the tank under 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C) to relieve pressure. On Sunday, EPA chief Lee Zeldin said the most likely scenario is a “low-volume release” of the tank’s contents, so officials can “monitor, neutralize, and contain the threat.”
If the temperature inside the tank rises, it will cause pressure to build as the methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas, increasing the risk of explosion, which could ignite other tanks at the site.
A blast that releases the chemical into the air would send it into a wider area, and could create vapors that are hazardous to inhale, according to Orange County’s top health officer, Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.
Chinsio-Kwong said if people inhale the vapor, it could cause irritation to the eyes, nose and lungs and may cause a sore throat, burning eyes and even dizziness. She said the chemical has a fruity odor, but smelling it doesn’t mean a person will have health impacts.
In prolonged cases, exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems or render a person unconscious. The evacuation zone is west of Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Chinsio-Kwong said people outside the evacuation zone don’t need to worry about health impacts.
Officials said Sunday the tank may have cracked — potentially lowering the risk of an explosion. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang said emergency crews spotted the possible crack in the tank overnight. He said despite the crack, the tank did not appear to be releasing any of the toxic chemical into the atmosphere.
Zeldin said a low-volume and controlled release of the chemical would allow officials to monitor it and relieve pressure on the tank. The company, GKN Aerospace, said Sunday afternoon that it continues to work with local authorities and that “the situation remains ongoing.”
