Garden Grove, California — Tens of thousands of residents in Orange County were ordered to evacuate Friday after authorities warned that a tank containing a highly toxic industrial chemical could explode at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove.
Officials said approximately 40,000 people across parts of Garden Grove, Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster were affected by the evacuation order. The emergency centers on a tank containing methyl methacrylate, a chemical commonly used to manufacture Plexiglass, plastics, and resins.
The Orange County Fire Authority said crews lost control of a valve connected to the tank after responding Thursday to an earlier vapor release at the facility. Authorities have continued cooling the tank with sprinklers and unmanned hose lines to reduce the risk of ignition or explosion.
“It fails or it blows up,” incident commander Craig Coby told reporters during a Friday briefing.
Health officials warned the chemical is highly flammable and potentially dangerous if released into the air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methyl methacrylate exposure can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, skin irritation, coughing, and wheezing.
No injuries had been reported as of Friday evening, and authorities said the tank was not actively leaking chemicals. The EPA is assisting local officials with air monitoring while emergency crews continue trying to stabilize the situation.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
