Fire crews in Garden Grove confronted a bulging tank at GKN Aerospace that held roughly 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate. Overheating turned the liquid into pressurized gas, prompting an evacuation of thousands. Sprinklers cooled the vessel, but stuck valves blocked the response team from injecting a neutralizer, leaving officials with few options to avert failure.

Incident commander Craig Covey of the Orange County Fire Authority warned that a rupture could spew toxic vapor and launch a fireball the size of a house. Experts said the chemical’s low boiling point makes it prone to rapid vaporization, and the jammed valves prevented pressure relief. Sand barriers now shield storm drains, while drones monitor temperature trends.

The episode underscores the financial exposure of firms with aging process equipment. Potential liability, cleanup costs, and production shutdown could dent GKN’s aerospace supply chain, prompting insurers to revisit coverage terms for chemical‑storage facilities. Regulators may tighten safety audits, raising compliance expenses for similar sites across the region.