Explosion threat at southern California chemical tank eliminated, firefighters say

Firefighters in southern California reported eliminating the risk of a hazardous chemical tank exploding after an overnight operation. The tank had cracked over the weekend, and authorities expected the crack to relieve pressure and lower explosion danger. Crews avoided daytime work because heat around the tank was most dangerous, instead conducting temperature checks at night. The overnight evaluation verified the crack and confirmed temperatures were falling, with pressure released. About 50,000 residents in Garden Grove remained evacuated while officials worked toward a resolution. The tank overheated and vented vapors, prompting emergency actions at a GKN Aerospace site. No injuries were reported, and a federal emergency declaration enabled FEMA support after a request from California’s governor.

"Firefighters contending with an overheating tank of hazardous chemicals in southern California said they had eliminated the threat of the tank exploding in an overnight operation, Orange county fire officials said on 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 confirm temperatures were falling, the Orange county fire authority division chief, Craig Covey, said on Monday morning."

"Covey said the results of overnight evaluation of the tank that the temperature inside had dropped and that pressure had been released was incredibly positive news. Some 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, a city of roughly 170,000 about 40 miles (60km) south of downtown Los Angeles, have been evacuated and were waiting for a resolution."

"Firefighters have repeatedly sprayed the tank with water in an attempt to cool the chemical inside, methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts. The tank's interior reached 100F (37.7C) on Sunday. The tank at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft, holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used to make plastic parts."

Read at www.theguardian.com