Firefighters in California worked through Saturday to cool a volatile chemical tank that officials warned was “literally on the edge” of exploding, as emergency crews attempted to prevent what authorities described as a potentially catastrophic industrial disaster.
According to Craig Covey, incident commander for the Orange County Fire Authority, the primary concern centers on a 7,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate, a toxic industrial chemical used in the production of plastics and resins.
Covey said an explosion involving that tank could trigger a chain reaction involving a nearby 15,000-gallon tank holding the same substance.
“We’re talking about possibly one of the worst chemical incidents in California history,” Covey told NBC News.
In response to the growing emergency, Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County on Saturday and directed state emergency agencies to assist affected residents.
Authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from Garden Grove and surrounding communities due to concerns about the deteriorating conditions at the site.
Officials said the facility has experienced a loss of valve control along with rising temperatures inside the tank, which had already entered the dangerous range of 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Covey warned those temperatures could lead to a “thermal runaway” reaction capable of triggering a massive explosion.
“We are literally on the edge of it,” he said.
Fire crews continued using sprinklers and hose systems throughout Saturday in an effort to cool the tanks and stabilize the chemicals inside. Authorities hope the cooling process will trigger a curing reaction that could slow the temperature increase enough to prevent a blast.
Covey said the “worst-case” scenario would involve all three tanks at the facility — including an additional 4,500-gallon tank — exploding.
The hazardous materials emergency began Thursday after what the Orange County Fire Authority described as a “vapor release” from the aerospace manufacturing facility’s 7,000-gallon tank.
