• Threat of catastrophic explosion from damaged chemical tank in California is gone, officials say
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    Threat of catastrophic explosion from damaged chemical tank in California is gone, officials say

    May 25, 2026 - By 

    No injuries have been reported, but more than 50,000 residents were under an evacuation order over the Memorial Day weekend. GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — The risk of a catastrophic explosion of a damaged chemical tank in Southern California has been eliminated following a close overnight inspection that confirmed a crack in the tank relieved pressure and cooled the chemical, authorities said Monday. Officials said crews conducted tank temperature checks at night to reduce risks to firefighters, avoiding daytime operations when heat from the tank made conditions around it most dangerous. The overnight mission allowed crews to verify the crack and…

  • Crack found in damaged chemical tank in California could change response strategy
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    Crack found in damaged chemical tank in California could change response strategy

    May 25, 2026 - By 

    Fire crews say they may have found a crack in the damaged industrial tank in California. It could change their entire strategy, as 50,000 residents remain evacuated. GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — Crews say they may have found a crack in the damaged industrial tank at an aerospace facility in Orange County, California. 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…