Orange County DA investigating Backyard Grove chemical disaster – NBC Los Angeles

The Orange County District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced on Saturday that it has launched an investigation and established an nameless tipline and on-line reporting kind to assemble details about the failed chemical storage tank in Backyard Grove that has put 50,000 individuals in 5 communities below evacuation orders.

The disaster at GKN Aerospace, at 12122 Western Ave., started shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday when methyl methacrylate — a poisonous and extremely flammable liquid chemical used within the manufacture of acrylic plastics used for airplane canopies — overheated in a 34,000-gallon tank. The state of affairs worsened Friday, when officers stated the tank might rupture or explode, setting off a series response of blasts in different close by tanks.

Orange County District Legal professional Todd Spitzer stated he has launched his personal investigation and would order GKN to protect information.

Rep. Derek Tran, D-Backyard Grove informed the station he, too, has known as for an investigation and needs the corporate “to take possession of this.”

California Legal professional Common Rob Bonta cautioned anybody who would jack up costs on wanted objects throughout a state of emergency.

“California’s price-gouging regulation protects individuals impacted by an emergency from unlawful worth gouging on housing, fuel, meals and different important provides,” he stated. “In case you see worth gouging, I encourage you to right away file a criticism with my workplace on-line at oag.ca.gov/report or contact your native police division or sheriff’s workplace.”

NBC4 Meteorologist Kelley Moody explains what methyl methacrylate (MMA), the chemical discovered within the compromised storage tank in Backyard Grove, is. This video was broadcast on At this time in LA on Sunday, Might 24, 2026.

In asserting the brand new tipline, the DA’s workplace sought details about GKN Aerospace’s operations.

“Anybody with info associated to the circumstances main as much as this incident, together with however not restricted to particular particulars of the discharge, details about the economic operations of the ability, the standard and frequency of upkeep of the tanks and techniques at problem, and another related info at GKN Aerospace Transparency Programs, is inspired to name the Orange County District Legal professional Nameless Tip Hotline at 714-347-8714 or fill out an nameless on-line kind at www.ocdistrictattorney.gov,” the workplace acknowledged.

GKN Aerospace paid about $900,000 to settle a number of environmental violations in 2021, together with failing to maintain emission information and working gear with no allow, based on the Orange County Register, which cited the South Coast Air High quality Administration District.