Thousands of Southern California residents who were still displaced by a hazardous materials emergency were finally given the all-clear Tuesday, after officials said the threat tied to a chemical tank at an aerospace facility had fully subsided.
The incident centered on a 7,000-gallon storage tank of methyl methacrylate, a toxic, highly flammable chemical, at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove.
The issue was first detected Thursday and quickly escalated into a major public safety crisis, triggering widespread evacuations across the region.
At its peak, roughly 60,000 people in Garden Grove and nearby communities were forced from their homes as authorities warned of a possible explosion, fire risk, and chemical hazard.
By Tuesday night, officials confirmed the danger had passed, saying there was no remaining risk of explosion, leakage, fire, or harm to the public, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
“All evacuation orders related to the Garden Grove hazardous materials incident have been lifted,” the agency said.
For the time being, Western remains closed between Garden Grove Blvd and Chapman.
While most evacuation orders were lifted Monday, about 16,000 residents had remained out of their homes due to lingering concerns about a possible fire or explosion risk, concerns that were ultimately ruled out.
The scare has raised broader questions in the community about why hazardous chemicals were stored at the Garden Grove facility, located in a city of about 171,000 people roughly 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
At a community meeting Tuesday, frustrated residents pressed city officials for answers as they acknowledged the need for a deeper review.
Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein said investigations will be launched at the city, state, and federal levels.
Legal action has commenced against GKN Aerospace, with eight lawsuits filed on behalf of 70 individuals.
The company faces allegations of negligence in connection with the emergency that necessitated the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
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