North Orange County’s emergency evacuation zone was severely reduced Monday afternoon after firefighters were able to stabilize a malfunctioning chemical tank – eschewing fears that a massive explosion could happen.
“The most catastrophic and worst case scenario was mitigated and resolved,” said OC Fire Authority interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern at a Monday afternoon news conference while also warning, “It’s not over yet.”
“We still have to mitigate a fire and very small explosion concern and also a spill potential,” he said.
McGovern said the options that officials originally faced weren’t acceptable.
“Early on in this incident it started with us being advised that there were no options and nothing we could do. Basically it was going to be a major explosion … or a catastrophic spill,” McGovern said. “We knew we had to come up with a plan and that’s what we do.”
[Read: Orange County Chemical Emergency: ‘A Leaking Tank or a Tank That Blows Up’]
“We did it. I was handed an incident that had two options – a spill or an explosion. As the chief said, it was unacceptable,” OC Fire Authority Incident Commander Craig Covey said. “That was the number one priority was to get everybody home – but only once it’s safe.”
The new evacuation boundaries now stretch from Dale Avenue to Knott Avenue and from Orangewood Avenue to Garden Grove Boulevard.
Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said roughly 16,000 people remain under evacuation orders.
Officials said they’re working to get some of the evacuees home starting tonight and that the evacuation borders were being readjusted as the 6 p.m. news conference was happening.
El-Farra said there’s been seven arrests – six for prowling and one for looting as of Sunday evening.
“I will tell you our partners over at the DA’s office are going to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” El-Farra said, adding patrols will continue.
“For those who are going back home tonight they can expect to see Garden Grove PD and our local law enforcement agencies who are partnered with us in this for the duration of the event,” he said.
Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein thanked residents for following evacuation orders.
“I know how much this incident has disrupted your daily life for so many families,” Klopfenstein said. “I am relieved that many of you will be able to return home.”
She said tomorrow’s regular city council meeting is cancelled but a special meeting at the community center will be held 5 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the incident and answer resident questions.
The tank is located at GKN Aerospace off Western Avenue in Garden Grove.
Company officials issued a statement apologizing for the issue on Sunday.
“We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible. Please continue to follow all instructions issued by local authorities and emergency personnel at this time,” reads a statement on the GKN website.
Meanwhile, there’s a handful of law firms taking claims from impacted residents while they build class action lawsuit cases.
Before late Monday afternoon, the evacuation zone stretched from Ball Road to Trask Avenue and from Dale Street to Valley View Street – a large portion of North OC where tens of thousands of residents live.
“There were 6,500 gallons in this tank – but we feel a lot of that has been cured already,” Covey said. “We know that some of that is gelled up or hardened like it’s supposed to do.”
[Read: Garden Grove Chemical Tank Stabilized, Massive Explosion Chances Gone as Evacuation Remains]
The previous evacuation zone covered parts of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, and Westminster – along with most of Stanton.
Now, the smaller evacuation zone covers parts of Garden Grove and Stanton.
CA Senator Adam Schiff said the state and Presidential emergency declarations should open up resources so residents can get reimbursement for things like evacuation costs.
Congressman Derek Tran, who helped push President Trump for a federal emergency declaration that was issued today, said residents can soon expect assistance.
“Our community is rightfully angry and, now that the threat has been reduced, our work will immediately prioritize demanding accountability from all responsible actors. I’ll continue working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure our residents get the answers and relief they deserve,” Tran said in a Monday news release.
Stanton Mayor David Shawver, whose city was once almost entirely in the evacuation zone, also said city officials have been working with residents and businesses to reimburse expenses.
In a Sunday interview before the evacuation zone was reduced, Shawver said local police and sheriff deputies were instrumental in preventing looting.
“We didn’t get looters and other damage in town. It worked out well because we haven’t been able to do that because the chief of police and the OC Sheriff’s department have been instrumental in doing that,” Shawver said.
At Sunday’s news conference, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said people who were in the original evacuation zone should feel safe going back home.
“You should feel comfortable going home. Even if you’re across the street from that new zone line,” Kwong said, adding that people still inside “please stay out of that zone.”
She added that the air is safe.
“There was no contamination, no fumes, no vapors.”
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.
