Cooling System Failure at Chemical Tanks Triggers Mass Evacuations in Orange County
A failure in the cooling system of chemical tanks at a Garden Grove aerospace firm led to the evacuation of approximately 50,000 people in Orange County. The incident involved a pressurized tank containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in plastics manufacturing. Interim Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern reported that the cooling system's failure caused the chemical to heat up, raising the risk of a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion. Over the Memorial Day weekend, evaluations revealed a crack in the tank that reduced pressure, mitigating the risk of a catastrophic explosion. While the evacuation zone has been reduced, about 16,000 residents remain under mandatory evacuation orders. 
