Potential crack on California toxic chemical tank may ease pressure as officials race to prevent explosion

U.S. newsPotential crack on California toxic chemical tank could be easing pressure as officials race to prevent explosionOfficials have been dumping water on the tank at a facility in Garden Grove for days in an effort to cool its internal temperature.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleCalifornia crews race to avoid toxic chemical tank explosion02:05Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 24, 2026, 9:50 PM EDTBy Marlene Lenthang, Steve Patterson and Shanshan DongLA PALMA, Calif. — A potential crack may be releasing pressure inside a toxic chemical tank in Southern California, officials said Sunday, a development they hope could help avert a devastating vapor explosion.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The possible crack was identified during a visual inspection of the 7,000-gallon tank Saturday night at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern said Sunday.“With this new information, it could change our trajectory and our strategy to this event,” he said, noting teams are vetting and validating that information. A GKN Aerospace spokesperson said Sunday the company is monitoring the condition of the “affected material” and crews are working “around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.”Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesThe tank in question holds methyl methacrylate, a toxic chemical used to manufacture resins and plastics. Concerns over a possible explosion or leak have prompted evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents, many of whom are staying in shelters.McGovern told NBC News that crews are looking to confirm that the crack is releasing pressure in the tank. If it is, it means “the potential of a BLEVE [boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion] is now off the table.”“There’s still a potential for explosion,” he said, but not a BLEVE, which he descr...