Explosion would cause significant damage around Garden Grove plant, blast zone map shows

A failing chemical tank in Orange County could explode, threatening an aerospace plant and nearby homes. Authorities released a map showing expected blast impacts by distance: severe damage within about 1,100 feet, moderate damage within about 0.3 miles, and light damage within about 0.4 miles. Officials emphasized efforts to prevent an explosion and to keep the chemical inside the damaged tank as cool as possible, with help from national experts on alternative plans. Fire and health officials described evacuation zones based on operational and health risks. The severe zone includes parts of Stanton with dozens of homes. The moderate zone includes additional areas with expected structural damage. The light zone includes Wakeham Elementary School and a Home Depot, where damage could be more limited. The map also identified flammability areas above the tank site where fire or flash fire could occur.

"Areas within roughly 1,100 feet of the tank would suffer severe damage; and beyond that, areas within about 0.3 miles, moderate damage; and beyond that, areas within about 0.4 miles, light damage, from the blast."

"Officials have stressed they are working to avoid and explosion and are trying to keep the chemical inside the damaged tank at the aerospace facility as cool as possible. They said they have received help from expert nationally to come up with alternatives plans. Nothing specific, however, has been mentioned."

"“Areas within the severe blast zone represent ‘areas where we can expect severe structural damage and significant harm,’” said Nick Freeman, an Orange County Fire Authority division chief. There are dozens of homes in that area in a neighborhood of the city of Stanton, including along Santa Rosalia Street, south of Laurelton Avenue and north of Lamson Avenue."

"“In the moderate blast zone, ‘we would expect again structural damage and harm to those within that zone,’” Freeman said. The light damage zone includes Wakeham Elementary School and a Home Depot on the corner of Chapman Avenue and Beach Boulevard. “There, we might see some structural damage, but it would be a little bit more limited,” Freeman said."

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