Overview
- Unified command announced Tuesday night that all evacuation orders were lifted after crews cooled the compromised tank and its internal temperature held near 90°F without active water spray.
- Officials say a failed cooling‑system valve allowed the methyl methacrylate to heat and risk a BLEVE, and a crack that formed in the tank relieved pressure and let responders stabilize the material.
- Firefighters removed insulation, used continuous water spray, and crews have taken and treated roughly 4,000 gallons from the tank while reducing the security perimeter to finish recovery work.
- Authorities report no detections of airborne contamination so far and health and air agencies will run months of air, sewer and storm‑drain monitoring as cleanup plans move forward.
- The incident has triggered a criminal probe by the Orange County district attorney, multiple civil and class‑action suits, calls from elected officials for records and compensation, and possible supply and regulatory fallout for GKN Aerospace.