Fire officials have provided a vivid depiction of the potential damage that could occur if a tank containing a toxic garden glove material, which heats over time, were to explode.
Nick Freeman, who heads the OCFA division, stated on Friday that the area around the tank has been classified into severe, moderate, and mild explosion zones.
The most severe zones would lead to “substantial structural damage and significant harm,” while the moderate zones might bring about some structural damage and injury. The mild zones would only result in minimal structural damage.
They also revealed that the airspace above the tank is categorized into three additional zones—red, orange, and yellow—each representing different risks related to the chemicals involved.
The red zone is deemed highly dangerous, indicating areas where fires or flash fires could occur. Orange zones are less severe but still pose a risk of injury from inhalation of chemicals. The yellow zones might have noticeable vapors, but they don’t represent an immediate threat.
Dr. Regina Cincio Kwon, who was also present at the press conference, explained that individuals might detect a strong fruity odor from the chemical, yet smelling it doesn’t necessarily lead to symptoms. “In fact,” she added, “just because you can smell it doesn’t mean it’s a danger.” She advised people to evacuate and clarified that masks are not needed outside of evacuation zones.
She mentioned that the chemical, methyl methacrylate, could lead to “significant irritation of the lungs and nasal passages,” nausea, and dizziness. High exposure could result in “severe breathing difficulties and the need for hospitalization.”
Approximately 40,000 individuals have been evacuated, although around 15% of those contacted by authorities chose to remain in their homes. The shelter systems are becoming overwhelmed with the influx of evacuees.
In a concerning update from early Saturday, Orange County fire officials reported that the temperature of the tank has continued to rise, despite efforts from fire personnel.
Fire Department Chief Craig Covey announced that the tank’s temperature had escalated from 77 to 90 degrees due to a drone mistakenly measuring the outside rather than the liquid inside.
“Yesterday afternoon, I was informed that the tank was stable and the temperature was manageable. I thought it had even lowered slightly,” Covey remarked.
“Unfortunately, I must clarify that these temperatures we’re now reporting were taken from the exterior of the tank,” he added. “The liquid inside is heating up at a rate of about one degree per hour.”
If the tank experiences a “thermal runaway,” it would explode, but there’s no clear timeframe for when that might occur.
The facility at the center of this hazardous situation is operated by GKN Aerospace, a UK-based company that serves as a major supplier in the defense and aviation sectors, providing parts for various aircraft, including military ones and commercial jetliners. They employ around 16,000 globally, with over 540 working at this Southern California site, which specializes in designing and testing aircraft windows and military canopies for models such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
In light of this situation, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Orange County and urged residents in the vicinity to evacuate promptly.
