Overview
- Authorities ordered tens of thousands of residents to leave the area after a leak was reported at a chemical storage tank on the GKN Aerospace site, with initial public warnings and evacuation orders issued on Saturday, May 23.
- The tank holds methylmethacrylate (MMA), a volatile, highly flammable chemical that the U.S. EPA says can irritate skin, eyes and airways and cause neurological and respiratory effects.
- Emergency crews have focused on continuous water cooling, remote and interior temperature checks that showed fluctuating readings up to about 90°F (32°C), and efforts to keep people out of harm’s way.
- Firefighters reported during an on-site inspection that the tank appears to have a crack, which officials say could relieve pressure and lower the immediate risk of a catastrophic explosion, though full assessments and containment plans remain in progress.
- Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County to unlock more resources, GKN Aerospace apologized for the disruption, and evacuated residents have not yet been cleared to return to their homes.