Officials ordered the evacuation of approximately 50,000 people in and near the Orange County city of Garden Grove last Thursday after a chemical tank at an aerospace plant overheated. The incident sparked fears of an environmental disaster and the risk of a catastrophic explosion.
The threat of a catastrophic explosion was averted over the Memorial Day weekend when a crack formed by chance in the tank. This crack relieved the pressure within the overheated vessel, allowing officials to reduce the size of the evacuation order.
Despite the reduced risk, about 16,000 residents remained under evacuation orders as crews worked to neutralize the damaged tank. Officials stated that the risk of potential spills or smaller explosions kept those living closest to the site from returning home.
On Tuesday, officials lifted the final evacuation orders, allowing the remaining 16,000 residents to return to their homes.