GARDEN GROVE (CNS) -Thousands of residents may return to their homes Tuesday, after authorities eased evacuation orders for a majority of the 50,000 people who were told to leave because of a failing toxic chemical tank in Garden Grove.
The reduction of the evacuation zone to an area about 65% smaller allowed around 34,000 to get back into their residences.
The Orange County Fire Authority said the temperature within the tank had dropped from 100 degrees to 93 degrees in an overnight reading, and a crack in the tank had helped ease pressure.
“We are happy to report that the threat of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) is now off the table; that threat has been eliminated,” Interim OCFA Fire Chief TJ McGovern said Monday morning.
In a Monday afternoon news conference, he announced that “the most catastrophic and worst-case scenario has been mitigated and resolved, but it’s not over yet.”
“We knew we had to come up with a plan,” he said. “That’s what we do.”
Unified Incident Commander Craig Covey called the drop in temperature “incredibly positive news as we turn the corner in this incident.”
However, McGovern said a smaller explosion could not be ruled out yet, and evacuation orders were still in effect.
“We did it,” he said of efforts to avert a disaster.
The evacuation is now bordered by Orangewood Avenue to north, Dale Avenuye to the east, Knott Street to the west and Garden Grove Boulevard to the south, said Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El Farra.
He said Garden Grove Boulevard was reopened to traffic in both directions and all on- and off-ramps of the Garden Grove (22) Freeway were also reopened.
Officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols in evacuation zones, where about 16,000 people remained under evacuation orders, the chief said.
A county health department official said residents should feel safe as they return home because there was no leak and no contamination.
A team of OCFA firefighters conducted an overnight mission to assess whether the crack spotted on the tank filled with methyl methacrylate, a flammable and toxic chemical used to manufacture acrylic plastics, was actually helping to reduce the chance of an explosion.
Authorities were only conducting temperature checks at night, when the tank was not exposed to the sun, for the safety of firefighters.
In addition to the crack, the OCFA said there was also peeling of the weather stripping on the exterior, but there was no active leak.
The evacuation zone had stretched north of Trask Avenue, south of Ball Road, east of Valley View Street and west of Dale Street, and included the entire city of Stanton, along with parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Westminster, Buena Park and Cypress.
The following evacuation centers were opened, though many filled up quickly:
— Los Amigos High School, 16566 Newhope St., Fountain Valley.
— Oceanview High School, 17071 Gothard St., Huntington Beach, 714-848- 0656.
— John F. Kennedy High School, 8281 Walker St., La Palma, 714-220-4101.
— Freedom Hall, Mile Square Regional Park, 6801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, 714-973-6600.
— Savanna High School, 301 N. Gilbert St., Anaheim.
— Golden West College gymnasium, 15744 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach.
— Los Alamitos High School, 3591 W. Cerritos Ave., Los Alamitos.
— OC Fair & Events Center (RV shelter), 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
All locations were accepting pets except for Golden West College.
A Garden Grove emergency hotline was operated at 714-741-5444, and an Orange County public information hotline was available at 714-628-7085.
Authorities responded to GKN Aerospace, a global supplier of vehicle and aircraft components that manufactures acrylic plastics, at about 3 p.m. Thursday after the tank began venting vapors and triggering a sprinkler system designed to spray water on it to cool the material inside. Officials feared that further instability in the 7,000-gallon tank could have set off an explosion in two adjacent tanks at the facility, one holding 15,000 gallons and one that contains 4,500 gallons.
The plant is located at 12122 Western Ave.
GKN Aerospace posted the following statement on its website Monday:
“During the evening of May 24, technical specialists working for the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove conducted a joint operation with Orange County Fire Authority to assess the storage tank more closely. The team safely and successfully removed external insulation material from the tank in order to help advance efforts to cool its contents. This operation followed several days of careful monitoring and work to stabilize the tank, in conjunction with the dedicated team of experts on-site.
“We are continuing to work around the clock with the OCFA, the EPA and all relevant federal, state and local agencies to mitigate the ongoing risk of a leak. We remain extremely thankful for their dedication and hard work.
“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.”
Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday, and requested a federal emergency declaration from Trump one day later. Trump signed the order Monday, according to Newsom and other local officials.
“I’m proud to announce that President Trump heard our request and signed a federal emergency declaration for Orange County and our ongoing hazmat situation. Thank you, Mr. President!” Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen posted on X.
The governor’s office said a declaration from the Trump administration will permit federal cost-sharing support for urgent actions such as evacuations, sheltering and emergency medical support, access to public assistance to help pay for overtime, equipment and other emergency actions, and the ability for FEMA to provide additional direct federal assistance, such as personnel, specialized equipment and technical support.
It differs from a major disaster declaration, which is typically approved only after significant damage has occurred.
Rep. Derek Tran, D-Westminster, welcomed the news of Trump’s declaration.
“Over 50,000 of our neighbors have experienced unprecedented chaos and uncertainty over the last four days. I am grateful to our first responders for their tireless efforts to keep our community safe and mitigate this crisis,” Tran said.
“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Governor Newsom and Senators Padilla and Schiff for their steadfast commitment to securing every possible resource available to keep Orange County residents safe. A Federal Emergency Declaration will provide necessary additional support to protect public health, safeguard our environment, and defray the significant cost of this crisis.”
Newsom’s office announced that nearly 800 state and local first responders and emergency personnel were supporting public safety, evacuations, traffic management, sheltering operations, environmental monitoring and community assistance efforts.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Saturday afternoon that it has established an anonymous tipline and online reporting form to gather information regarding the incident.
“Anyone with information related to the circumstances leading up to this incident, including but not limited to specific details of the release, information about the industrial operations of the facility, the quality and frequency of maintenance of the tanks and systems at issue, and any other relevant information at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, is encouraged to call the Orange County District Attorney Anonymous Tip Hotline at 714-347-8714 or fill out an anonymous online form at www.ocdistrictattorney.gov,” the office stated.
Multiple schools in the Garden Grove, Magnolia, Savanna, Westminster and Cypress school districts were closed until further notice.
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