What to know about LA chemical tank set to explode or leak
The tank at GKN Aerospace is estimated to contain 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a volatile chemical used to produce plastics.
Tens of thousands of Southern California residents have been evacuated after officials warned a leaking chemical tank holding a "highly flammable" substance at an aerospace facility would inevitably fail and potentially explode.
Methyl methacrylate is a flammable plastic epoxy that generates its own heat. That means if it leaks into the atmosphere, any spark or flash could lead to an uncontrolled fire or explosion, said Elias Picazo, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California. At the moment, fire officials are working to keep the tank cooled.
Covey told CBS Los Angeles that this is "the most significantly dangerous event" he's been a part of in his decades in fire service.
"This is bad as I've ever seen," he added.
So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported. GKN Aerospace is in Garden Grove, a town about 38 miles south of Los Angeles.