A malfunction in the cooling system at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove may have led to a leak of hazardous chemicals, resulting in the evacuation of around 50,000 residents due to potential explosion risks, officials reported.
According to Orange County Fire Department Chief TJ McGovern, a storage tank filled with 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate—a highly flammable substance used for plastic production—began to heat up after its cooling system failed, although the specific cause remains unknown.
“I’m not sure what happened, but the cooling just stopped,” McGovern mentioned during a conversation with the Los Angeles Times.
“That’s where this happened, where the product heated up…and that’s where this whole response started. We’re just now able to get to the tank, so we’ll definitely find out more about the cause,” he continued, noting the seriousness of the situation.
The incident began on Friday when authorities became concerned that one of three chemical tanks at the facility could potentially explode, which would have devastating consequences for the area.
The urgency of the situation led to mass evacuations, impacting more than 50,000 residents.
Following further investigations over the Memorial Day weekend, crews identified cracks in the tank and observed a decrease in internal pressure, which helped alleviate the fears of a major explosion.
“We really turned a corner yesterday,” McGovern said, sounding a bit more optimistic.
GKN Aerospace was highlighted as a source of notable chemical emissions.
On Monday, President Trump approved a federal state of emergency after California Governor Gavin Newsom and state officials expressed concerns that the toxic leak might escalate into a more severe crisis.
However, amid the chaos, opportunistic scammers reportedly began to take advantage of the situation.
Police noted that looters and those lurking in the evacuated areas targeted homes left behind as residents sought refuge. Authorities have arrested about ten individuals in connection with these incidents.
