“The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority. We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe,” Newsom said.
The tank, located at a manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, first started displaying signs of instability on Thursday. On Friday, there were increased fears of an explosion, according to Orange County Fire Authority interim Chief TJ McGovern.
Approximately 50,000 residents were evacuated in Garden Grove, which is home to around 172,000 people and located 30 miles south of Los Angeles.
The governor’s proclamation directs all state agencies and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to support Orange County and impacted areas, and unlocks additional emergency response resources and authorities.
This includes making state-owned properties and fairgrounds available to the evacuated residents for shelter.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey issued an update Saturday at 10 a.m. PT, saying the gauge they examined increased from 77 degrees Friday morning to 90 degrees Friday night and is increasing about one degree an hour.
He said they went in Friday night to try to neutralize the explosive potential of an additional 15,000 gallon tank if the 7,000 gallon tank does blow up.
“We’re preparing for the tank to fail and spill the liquid all over the place,” Covey said. “We’re looking for places that we can push this fluid, should it fail, and try to prevent it from getting into our storm drains, our river channels, and ultimately into the ocean.”
The evacuation zone extends beyond much of western Garden Grove and includes parts of neighboring cities Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, Buena Park, and Westminster.
Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra said Friday that approximately 15 percent of those under evacuation orders had not yet left.
“This is a very dangerous situation and you are urged to leave your homes and businesses now,” Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein said Saturday.
Orange County officials originally established evacuation centers at the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center, Cypress Community Center, Freedom Hall in Fountain Valley, and Kennedy High School in La Palma, which have since filled up.
