Newsom declares state of emergency in Orange County as failing chemical tank nears catastrophic explosion
Garden Grove, Calif. — Emergency crews have been working through the night to avert a potential chemical catastrophe at an aerospace plant in Orange County, where a leaking storage tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) has seen its temperature climb steadily since Thursday.
The leak was first detected after dark on Thursday at the GKN Aerospace facility, which manufactures engine components for both commercial and military aircraft. MMA is a volatile, flammable compound used in plastics and epoxies. Initial response efforts included setting up a water curtain around the tank, which appeared to stabilize conditions and allowed some residents to return home briefly.
By Friday morning, the internal temperature of the troubled tank measured 77 °F. It has risen roughly one degree per hour, reaching 90 °F by Saturday morning. The heating has obscured the tank’s gauge from aerial view, forcing firefighters to approach the vessel directly to obtain readings.
Orange County Fire Authority Incident Commander Greg Covey described the situation as “bad news” after crews entered the hazard zone overnight to check the temperature manually. He warned that the tank faces two dire possibilities: a rupture that could release between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals, or a thermal runaway explosion that might trigger a chain reaction with nearby fuel and chemical stores.
In response, authorities have launched an overnight operation aimed at neutralizing a neighboring 15,000‑gallon tank. The goal is to remove its explosive potential should the primary tank fail. Covey said the effort is being supported by a chem‑team and relies on a heavy, continuous deluge of water. The strategy is to cool the MMA from the outside in, allowing it to harden slowly like an ice cube, while counting on the tank’s internal void space to absorb any pressure generated during the curing process.
Should the primary tank rupture, contingency plans are already in place. Crews are building dikes and dams to channel any spilled liquid down a grade toward a commercial holding area, thereby steering the substance away from storm drains, rivers and the ocean. Covey emphasized that letting the tank “just fail and blow up is unacceptable,” noting that experts from across the country are consulting on the crisis.
Health officials have also weighed in. Dr. Regina Chinsio‑Kwong of the Orange County Health Care Agency warned that if the chemical vaporizes and is inhaled, it can cause severe respiratory irritation and damage to the eyes, nose and lungs. She stressed that safety hinges on staying outside the designated evacuation zone, regardless of whether the material leaks, hardens or detonates.
The escalating risk prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency on Saturday afternoon. The declaration unlocks additional state resources, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been active for more than a day, assisting local agencies and impacted communities. Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El‑Farra announced an expanded evacuation zone, directing displaced residents to emergency shelters.
Representative Derek Tran (D‑Calif.) said he is monitoring developments closely and remains in contact with federal disaster relief officials, including FEMA and the EPA. Neither agency had responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
Officials continue to urge the public to heed evacuation orders and avoid the area until the situation is resolved. The effort to cool and stabilize the tank remains ongoing, with crews prepared to adapt their approach as conditions evolve.