State Of Emergency Declared Amid Toxic Chemical Leak In Orange County

GARDEN GROVE, CA — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Orange County as crews work to keep a compromised chemical storage tank from leaking toxic materials or exploding.

In a statement, Newsom said the state is assisting with local response efforts after a pressurized tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors in Garden Grove, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

Evacuation orders were issued for 40,000 people, and several shelters remained open Saturday, including at three high schools.

• READ MORE: Chemical Tanks Rapidly Overheat Despite Dangerous Overnight Mission In Orange County

The governor's proclamation also unlocks additional emergency response resources and authorities, including making state-owned properties and fairgrounds available to provide shelter for evacuated residents, as necessary.

"The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority. We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe," Newsom said in a statement.

Authorities fear the damaged chemical storage tank is at risk of exploding or rupturing because it's gradually getting warmer despite efforts to reduce its internal temperature, Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey.

Covey said Friday evening that efforts to cool the tank appeared to be working. But on Saturday, he backtracked, saying a drone reading on Friday showed the temperature on the outside of the tank, not the inside.

The concern is that the tank could fail and crack, releasing the liquid chemical onto the ground, or it could explode, Covey said. If the tank spills its contents, containment barriers have been set up to prevent the toxic chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean, he said.

The damaged tank is located at GKN Aerospace, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft. The tank holds between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, used to make plastic parts.