Authorities continued working on multiple fronts this week to prevent a faulty chemical tank from rupturing and spilling toxins onto the streets of Garden Grove.
But earlier in the week, the worst case scenario — the overheating tank on Western Avenue exploding — was averted. Firefighters found a crack in the tank that was slowly relieving pressure, and, through cooling efforts, the tank’s temperature was brought down from about 100 degrees to the low 90s.
“The most catastrophic and worst case scenario was mitigated and resolved,” said OC Fire Authority interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern.
“It’s not over yet,” he added. “We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern and also a spill potential.”
When the threat diminished, the evacuation zone was reduced and tens of thousands of evacuees from Garden Grove, Stanton, Anaheim, Cypress, Westminster and Buena Park were greenlighted to return to their homes. About 16,000 remain under evacuation orders. The new evacuation boundaries stretch from Dale Street to Knott Avenue and from Orangewood Avenue to Garden Grove Boulevard. For a map, visit ggcity.org.
Some schools and businesses will remain closed until the crisis is fully resolved. High school graduations outside of the evacuation zone will be held this week.
“There is a continuing risk, and emergency operations are continuing. But this is an encouraging development, and we are hoping it will help first responders bring this to a safe conclusion as quickly as possible,” said Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein.
The crisis unfolded last week at GKN Aerospace, 12122 Western Ave. in Garden Grove. A chemical tank holding 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a toxic liquid used to make plastics, heated up to dangerous levels.
“?At some point, this is going to fail, and we’re doing our best to figure out the when or how we can prevent it,” Craig Covey, Orange County Fire Authority incident commander, said in the early stages of the crisis.
The threat was two-fold: a major explosion or the spillage of thousands of gallons of toxins onto Western Avenue and surrounding streets.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. First responders from cities, the county, the state and the federal government converged on the scene. Congressional representatives, state leaders, county supervisors and city mayors gave daily updates via social media.
Shelters were opened at Golden West College, the Garden Grove Elks Lodge, the Westminster Senior center and other sites to help about 50,000 who were evacuated. Most of the shelters accepted pets. OC Animal Care set up shelters for pets, as well.
Over the weekend, Congressman Derek Tran, who represents Garden Grove, said, “I have spoken to GKN Aerospace leadership and urged the company to take full responsibility for the panic and disruption that tens of thousands of residents are currently experiencing.”
GKN subsequently issued an apology to the public.
As of Tuesday, authorities from South Coast Air Quality Management District and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said contaminant levels around the evacuation zone have remained normal.
Firefighters and other first responders continued efforts to cool the tank and contain a possible chemical spill.