OC Fire Authority crews have found a potential crack in the Garden Grove chemical tank after lingering fears the tank could explode, causing damage and spewing toxic fumes.
[Read: Orange County Chemical Emergency: ‘A Leaking Tank or a Tank That Blows Up’]
“We developed a plan to go do an operation last night … during our operation our firefighters went in and they were able to visualize the tank. What they found was a potential crack in the tank which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there,” said OC Fire Authority interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern in a Sunday morning update.
“We are vetting and validating that information. With this new information it could change our trajectory and strategy to this event,” McGovern said. “We’re not there yet, but this is a step in the right direction and there’s going to be a lot more coming shortly.”
Since Thursday, the chemical tank at GKN Aerospace has seen temperatures rise while emergency crews have been trying to keep the tank cool to prevent an explosion at the facility off Western Avenue in Garden Grove.
Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated in a large swath of North OC – stretching from Dale Street to Valley View Street and from Ball Road to Trask Avenue – impacting parts of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Cypress and Westminster.
“A hazardous materials incident in Garden Grove has led to mandatory evacuation orders due to the release of Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)—a highly flammable and potentially toxic chemical commonly used in plastics, coatings, and manufacturing,” reads a health advisory from the California Department of Public Health.
State health officials say the chemical is a toxic threat to health.
“Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a clear, highly reactive organic compound that has a sharp, fruity smell. MMA is dangerous because it is toxic, flammable, and under certain conditions, can begin to react with itself in a process called polymerization. This reaction can generate heat and pressure, which may cause liquid to vaporize and be released into the air. If temperatures rise or MMA is not properly contained or handled, the vapors may also ignite or explode.”
Shortly before Sunday afternoon, four of the five evacuation centers were filled up, according to the Garden Grove city website.
A city employee – who wants to remain anonymous because they’re unauthorized to speak to the press – worked at a nearby evacuation center said local officials were unprepared for the large number of residents being evacuated.
Some nearby residents and evacuees also said they’re frustrated by a lack of communication from local officials.
Meanwhile, Garden Grove city officials listed nearby hotels at “discounted” rates for evacuees with prices sitting at $189 a night.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared an emergency for the area on Saturday.
[Read: State of Emergency Declared Over OC Chemical Tank at Risk of Exploding]
OC Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said people outside the evacuation zone shouldn’t have to worry about any health impacts.
“If you are not in the evacuation zone, we do not expect any health impact,” Kwong said during a Saturday update.
State health officials say the chemical can become a gas if the tank explodes.
“In an explosion, MMA can be released into the air as a gas, but MMA can also react to form additional hazardous compounds. An explosion could also cause secondary fires and explosions from the generation of heat, fire, flying debris, and the spread of heavy, combustible vapor clouds,” reads the advisory from state public health officials.
Health officials also said masks – like the ones used in the COVID-19 pandemic – won’t help.
“Release of large amounts of MMA in gas form is dangerous – the best way to stay safe is to keep away from the site of a release. Most consumer grade respiratory protective equipment (such as face masks or N95 respirators) will not provide protection from MMA.”
Spencer Custodio is the civic editor. You can reach him at scustodio@voiceofoc.org. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerCustodio.