Daijiworld Media Network - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, May 24: California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County following a hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, where emergency teams are attempting to stabilise a volatile chemical storage tank.

In an official statement issued on Saturday, Newsom said the protection of Orange County residents remains the government’s highest priority and assured that state authorities are deploying all available resources to support emergency operations and affected communities.

The governor also announced on social media that the California Office of Emergency Services had been actively responding to the situation for more than 24 hours, while multiple state agencies were coordinating with local officials to safeguard public safety.

The emergency declaration allows California authorities to speed up response measures and improve coordination between local, state and federal agencies dealing with the crisis at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove.

Officials said the concern centres around a storage tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA), a highly flammable industrial chemical commonly used in aerospace production and acrylic plastic manufacturing.

According to fire authorities, the temperature inside the unstable tank has continued to rise over the past few days, increasing from around 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25°C) to nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2°C), raising fears of a potentially dangerous chemical reaction.

Emergency responders warned that the worsening conditions could lead to two major risks — the tank may rupture and release toxic substances, or explode, potentially damaging nearby chemical storage units and escalating the hazard.

Crews remain on-site working to cool the tank and prevent further deterioration, while authorities continue monitoring the situation closely.