Evacuation centers remained open in Southern California on Saturday as authorities continued efforts to cool an overheated chemical storage tank less than a mile from Disneyland’s two theme parks. The Orange County Fire Authority confirmed no injuries after the pressurized tank began venting vapors on Thursday, with evacuation orders covering 40,000 residents and shelters opened at three high schools by Friday night.
The tank, holding 6,000-7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate used for plastic manufacturing, posed dual risks: potential failure causing chemical leakage or explosion. Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey emphasized ongoing drone monitoring of temperature and cooling efforts, stating by Friday evening 'efforts to cool the tank were working.' Covey urged public patience, declaring, 'It is not OK with me just to sit back and watch this thing blow up or fail,' while noting crews explored 'multiple options' to prevent failure.
Evacuation orders initially targeted Garden Grove but expanded to five neighboring cities by Friday. The city's large Vietnamese community received translated alerts via local television stations, with officials stressing the need for community vigilance. Health officials warned that chemical vapors could cause respiratory issues, eye irritation, nausea, and headaches, prompting crews to build sandbag barriers to contain potential runoff.
Though crews neutralized one damaged tank, Covey confirmed the remaining vessel was 'in the biggest crisis.' GKN Aerospace, which produces parts for commercial and military aircraft, stated it was 'fully focused on working with emergency services' to ensure community safety. Authorities maintained Disneyland's theme parks remained unaffected while residents near the incident site prepared for continued evacuation protocols. Despite the crisis, officials emphasized containment measures had significantly reduced environmental risks.}
The tank, holding 6,000-7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate used for plastic manufacturing, posed dual risks: potential failure causing chemical leakage or explosion. Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey emphasized ongoing drone monitoring of temperature and cooling efforts, stating by Friday evening 'efforts to cool the tank were working.' Covey urged public patience, declaring, 'It is not OK with me just to sit back and watch this thing blow up or fail,' while noting crews explored 'multiple options' to prevent failure.
Evacuation orders initially targeted Garden Grove but expanded to five neighboring cities by Friday. The city's large Vietnamese community received translated alerts via local television stations, with officials stressing the need for community vigilance. Health officials warned that chemical vapors could cause respiratory issues, eye irritation, nausea, and headaches, prompting crews to build sandbag barriers to contain potential runoff.
Though crews neutralized one damaged tank, Covey confirmed the remaining vessel was 'in the biggest crisis.' GKN Aerospace, which produces parts for commercial and military aircraft, stated it was 'fully focused on working with emergency services' to ensure community safety. Authorities maintained Disneyland's theme parks remained unaffected while residents near the incident site prepared for continued evacuation protocols. Despite the crisis, officials emphasized containment measures had significantly reduced environmental risks.}
