Prosecutors in Orange County are delving into the activities of an aerospace firm implicated in the Garden Grove chemical incident, which led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents amid fears of an explosion.
Describing the situation as “horrific,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced late Saturday that his office would investigate GKN Aerospace and the chemical tank malfunction that prompted the large-scale evacuation.
“It is unfathomable that a reputable defense contractor, involved in manufacturing aircraft windows with volatile chemicals, would allow its cooling systems to fail, compromising safety,” Spitzer told the Orange County Register.
He emphasized the significant costs arising from this incident and vowed, “I will ensure that those affected receive proper restitution.”
The DA’s office has also set up a hotline for employees or insiders who might have insights into what transpired at the facility.
Prosecutors are gathering information on the factory’s operations, particularly focusing on the frequency of tank and safety system maintenance and whether any warning signs were overlooked before the malfunction occurred.
Tipsters were urged to contact the OCDA anonymous hotline, email prosecutors, or submit information online.
Spitzer spent part of Saturday at the unified command center as first responders monitored the unstable chemical tank, which remained at risk of exploding. Authorities were also working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to gather drone footage and close-up images of the facility’s tanks and cooling systems.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon after the danger zone surround the site ballooned into a nearly 10-square-mile area stretching across Garden Grove, Anaheim, Stanton, Cypress, Buena Park and Westminster.
