What started out as a chemical leak has now escalated into an emergency officials say could end in a massive explosion.
Fire crews in Orange County, California, spent hours trying to stabilize a 34,000-gallon tank containing volatile chemicals before announcing that the tank “cannot be secured or mitigated.”
Officials say the situation has narrowed to two possibilities: a catastrophic spill of toxic chemicals or a thermal runaway event capable of igniting neighboring tanks.
Police are urging residents to leave evacuation zones immediately as emergency shelters open for displaced families.