California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as crews race to contain a toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County.
The report indicates that california Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as crews race to contain a toxic chemical leak at a manufacturing facility in Orange County.
It further notes that a tank containing about 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly volatile and flammable substance used to make plastic, was at risk of failure, officials warned. Thousands of Garden Grove residents are under evacuation orders as a precaution.
Officials stated on Saturday that the temperature in the tank was higher than previously thought and it was continuing to rise.
Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey stated they were planning for two scenarios: “Does it rupture and spill, or does it blow up?”
The aerospace facility is about 5 miles (8km) from the Disneyland theme park, which is outside the evacuation zone and is open as normal. The facility is about 35 miles south-east of Los Angeles.
The cause of the failing tank is under investigation and emergency crews have been spraying it with water to try to stabilise the temperature. Officials stated an “inoperable valve” had created “additional operational challenges”.
Covey stated the damaged tank’s temperature had risen to 32C (90F) on Saturday and was increasing by about one degree Fahrenheit an hour.
On Friday evening, officials had used drones to measure the external heat levels and believed they had cooled the tank to about 16C (61F).
But when crews were able to get closer and read the tank’s gauge, they realised the internal temperature was much higher, Covey said.
He expressed hope that emergency teams could slow the rate of the chemical reactions that were causing the substances to heat up and build pressure inside the tank.
“Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,” Covey said.
Officials were developing “very aggressive plans” for a scenario in which the tank’s integrity failed. They were also creating dykes and dams to contain any chemicals if the tank spilled, which Covey stated would hopefully prevent any substances reaching storm drains or the ocean.
Local schools have closed as a precaution and the exits of several major roads have been shut to limit access to the area.
Orange County health officer Dr Regina Chinsio-Kwong stated anyone who noticed “a fruity and heavy smell” should alert authorities.
