{"id":8999,"date":"2026-05-23T16:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T16:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=8999"},"modified":"2026-05-23T16:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T16:01:17","slug":"40000-still-evacuated-as-crews-try-to-head-off-possible-chemical-tank-explosion-in-garden-grove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=8999","title":{"rendered":"40,000 still evacuated as crews try to head off possible chemical tank explosion in Garden Grove"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Roughly 40,000 people were still under evacuation orders early Saturday morning, as authorities continued to try to head off the disastrous threat of a malfunctioning chemical storage tank that authorities cautioned was on the verge of exploding and creating a toxic cloud or cracking open and leaking volatile chemicals.<\/p>\n

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Crews have so far managed to buy time to find an \u201cout of the box\u201d solution to the compromised 34,000-gallon tank containing a mix of flammable, volatile chemicals used in the plastic and manufacturing that overheated at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove.<\/p>\n

Orange County Fire Authority crews first responded to the business on Thursday afternoon, following reports that an overheated tank had begun venting vapors. Firefighters began spraying the tank down with water in order to cool the chemical within the tank, which is methyl Methacrylate, a toxic and highly flammable liquid chemical.<\/p>\n

On Friday, worsening conditions forced authorities to set up a roughly one-mile buffer around the tank.<\/p>\n

Fire officials offered a bleak assessment: The tank would fail and spill 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of \u201cvery bad chemicals\u201d into a parking lot \u2014 which they described as the preferable option. Or the tank would go into \u201cthermal runaway\u201d and blow up, a more dire scenario.<\/p>\n

In order to such a scenario, crews were focused on keeping the temperature in the tank down. They described approximately 100 degrees as the point in which things could go out of control. By late Friday, fire officials said they had gotten he temperature down to 61 degrees, which they described as a positive sign as they continued to shoot for 50 degrees at which point they noted it may be possible to neutralize the threat.<\/p>\n

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In the meantime, a team of experts from across the county, state and country was assembled. Fire officials said they had come up with some \u201ctremendous ideas\u201d to head off a leaking or explosion tank.<\/p>\n

While there have been no reports so far of active gas leaks or plumes, the air quality in the area is being monitored and officials have strongly urged residents to adhere to the evacuations given the potential danger.<\/p>\n

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Evacuation centers have been set up at Freedom Hall at 16801 Euclid Street in Fountain Valley, Savanna High School at 301 N. Gilbert Street in Anaheim, John F. Kennedy High School at 8281 Walker Street in La Palma and Oceanview High School at 17071 Gothard Street in Huntington Beach.<\/p>\n

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival has cancelled its planned parade and community breakfast, though the festival itself remains open. A food bank event was cancelled, and a vote center and some ballot boxes in the city were closed.<\/p>\n

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More to come. Please check for updates.<\/em><\/p>\n

City News Service contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Officials buy time against possible chemical tank explosion in Garden Grove<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n