overheated methyl – An overheated chemical storage tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Orange County, prompted an evacuation order affecting more than 50,000 residents over the Memorial Day weekend. Officials said a damaged tank holding 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacr
On the edge of a weekend many in Southern California planned around barbecue grills and shopping trips, the sound of uncertainty traveled fast: a damaged storage tank at a local aerospace facility had begun overheating, and officials ordered evacuations for thousands living near Garden Grove.
The tank at GKN Aerospace. holding about 6. 000 to 7. 000 gallons (22. 713 to 26. 498 liters) of methyl methacrylate. started overheating last week and began leaking vapors into the air around Garden Grove. a city in Orange County. Over the Memorial Day weekend. more than 50. 000 residents were under an evacuation order. and firefighters spent the days spraying the tank with water to keep the chemicals from getting hot enough to worsen the danger.
No injuries have been reported.
Officials warned that over the weekend the tank could leak all the chemical or even explode if it overheats. turning a contained hazard into something far more widespread. Fire crews focused on keeping the temperature of the tank under 85 degrees F (29.4 degrees C) to relieve pressure inside and reduce the risk of a rupture.
What makes methyl methacrylate such a concern is that it is flammable and used in the production of resins and plastics. The Environmental Protection Agency says it is also regulated as a hazardous substance and can irritate the lungs. eyes and skin. In high doses, it can cause reduced lung function, along with dizziness and memory problems.
So far, air monitoring tests have found that air pollution around the evacuation zone is within normal limits.
But the tank’s condition complicates the response. Officials said the tank’s drainage valves are not functioning. leaving local authorities with fewer options for handling the chemical inside. Without an effective release mechanism. officials said the risk remains that there could be either a large chemical spill or an explosion.
On Sunday, EPA chief Lee Zeldin said the most likely scenario is a “low-volume release” of the tank’s contents. The goal, he said, is to allow officials to “monitor, neutralize, and contain the threat.”
The fear is not just that the chemical could escape—it’s how it would escape. If the temperature inside the tank rises further. officials said it will build pressure as methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas. increasing the risk of explosion. Any blast that releases the chemical into the air could send it into a wider area. and could create vapors that are hazardous to inhale. according to Orange County’s top health officer. Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.
Chinsio-Kwong said the vapor could irritate the eyes, nose and lungs and may cause a sore throat, burning eyes and even dizziness. She added that the chemical has a fruity odor, but that smelling it doesn’t automatically mean a person will experience health impacts.
She also warned that prolonged exposure can cause serious respiratory problems or render a person unconscious.
The evacuation zone is west of Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Chinsio-Kwong said people outside the evacuation zone don’t need to worry about health impacts.
As crews tried to keep the tank stable, the picture began to shift in small but important ways. Officials said Sunday the tank may have cracked, which could lower the risk of an explosion. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Wayhowe Huang said emergency crews spotted the possible crack in the tank overnight. He said despite the crack. the tank did not appear to be releasing any of the toxic chemical into the atmosphere.
Zeldin said a low-volume and controlled release would allow officials to monitor it and relieve pressure on the tank.
GKN Aerospace said Sunday afternoon that it continues to work with local authorities and that “the situation remains ongoing.”
For residents caught in the span between a refinery-level chemical reality and a holiday weekend. the central uncertainty hasn’t disappeared. The threat has shifted from what could happen without control to what officials can keep from happening as they monitor. cool. and try to stabilize a tank that still isn’t behaving the way it should.
Garden Grove methyl methacrylate GKN Aerospace evacuation order Orange County Fire Authority Lee Zeldin Regina Chinsio-Kwong
So basically Orange County was a chemistry experiment this weekend?
Glad nobody got hurt but I don’t get why they were evacuating 50,000 people like it’s the end of the world. Can’t they just shut a valve and be done? Also the article says it’s methyl metha… whatever, like does that even smell or is it just invisible danger?
85 degrees?? That seems kinda random. Like why not colder water, ya know? I read “methyl methacr…” and my brain just went straight to meth (the drug) and I was like wtf, then realized it’s plastic stuff. Still scary though, imagine living there and hearing that sound of sirens all weekend.
People saying “no injuries” like that means it’s fine. If it could explode then it’s already bad news even if nobody got hurt. I wonder if they evacuated because of the vape leak or because the tank was near some other chemicals at that aerospace place. Also they said air monitoring is “within…” whatever, but that’s just for now right? Memorial Day plans ruined for 50,000 people over some tank heating up.