Orange County prosecutors have launched an investigation into an aerospace company in downtown Garden Grove over a chemical scare that forced tens of thousands from their homes as workers scrambled to stop a possible explosion.
Calling the unfolding crisis “appalling,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced late Saturday that his office had launched an investigation into GKN Aerospace and the overheated chemical tank that caused the evacuation.
“It’s absurd to believe that any defense contractor that makes airplane windows and uses volatile chemicals in the process could have a failure of its cooling system that maintains the safety level of its chemicals,” Spitzer said in an interview with the Orange County Register.
“There will be incredible costs associated with this situation and I will be very open about making sure people survive.”
The DA’s office also opened a hotline for employees or insiders who may know what went wrong with these scenes at the plant.
Prosecutors are seeking information about operations inside the facility, including how often tanks and safety systems were maintained – and whether warning signs were ignored before dangerous malfunctions occurred.
Tipsters are urged to contact OCDA’s anonymous phone number, email prosecutors, or submit information online.
Spitzer spent part of Saturday at the Joint Command Center as first responders monitored an unstable chemical tank, which was always in danger of exploding. Authorities were working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to gather drone footage and close-up photos of the facility’s tanks and cooling systems.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon after the danger zone around the site reached nearly 10 square miles across Garden Grove, Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park and Westminster.
