GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Crews say they may have found a crack in the damaged industrial tank at an aerospace facility in Orange County, California.
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The tank, located at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, contains thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable and toxic chemical used to make plastics. It overheated last week and began leaking vapors into the air, forcing 50,000 people to evacuate.
Officials fear the tank could explode, sending a massive fireball into the sky.
On Sunday, fire officials continued to work to cool the tank with water to prevent it from breaching or exploding. In a recorded update posted to social media, the interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority said a specially created crew believes they found a crack in the tank.
Data collected by the team was analyzed to determine if it was helping to relieve pressure in the tank. If confirmed, the Orange County Fire Authority said they may be able to change their “trajectory and strategy” to the crisis.
Authorities said they do have contingency plans in place if the tank were to explode.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday asked President Donald Trump for an Emergency Declaration to open up federal support.
Meanwhile, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into GKN, the owner of the facility. Plus, a class action lawsuit was filed against the company.
As of Sunday, two residents who live in the evacuation zone are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. But with 50,000 forced to evacuate, that number is expected to grow.
GKN Aerospace released a statement:
“We continue to monitor the condition of the affected material and are working round the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak. We are acutely aware of the uncertainty this incident is causing and sincerely apologize for the ongoing disruption to the local community. We are working closely with the Orange County Fire Authority, the EPA, OSHA, and all relevant federal, state and local agencies, and remain deeply grateful for the dedication and expertise of all the emergency services and agencies involved. Our priority remains the safe resolution of this incident, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible. Please continue to follow all instructions issued by local authorities and emergency personnel at this time.”
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