Garden Grove chemical tank update: Cleanup efforts to begin and legal claims mount

GKN is facing several lawsuits after 50,000 people in Garden Grove and the surrounding communities were forced to evacuate their homes last week.

Roxanna Suarez, who lives in Stanton, is just one of many residents who filed a lawsuit.

"We can't believe that something like that would be possible in our city," she told Eyewitness News.

GKN is facing several lawsuits after 50,000 people in Garden Grove and the surrounding communities were forced to evacuate their homes last week.

Juarez, her mom and neighbor were evacuated Friday as the tank at the aerospace facility containing toxic chemicals went into crisis.

At the time, Orange County Fire Authority officials explained there was a faulty valve preventing mitigation efforts.

It's part of the reason why attorneys allege GKN was negligent.

"It could have been so much worse, but it was bad," said attorney Shawn Steel, who is representing them and others. "It's a gigantic trauma with basically 50,000 individual stories because everybody's impacted slightly differently from one another."

Attorney Neama Rahmani's law firm is handling cases as well.

"There are gonna be damages to pay. And it's not just the loss of use of their home and the money they had to pay for a hotel while they were displaced. To the extent that there's injuries or even a reduction in the property value of their homes," Rahmani said.

In a statement, GKN's Senior Vice President Steve Carline, who oversees the Garden Grove site, apologized for the disruption, saying "We recognize there is more work ahead. Our focus remains on supporting the community, working closely with authorities, and continuing to ensure a safe and responsible path forward."

The emergency response to the threat of a chemical tank explosion in Garden Grove will transition to a cleanup phase Friday morning.

The Orange County Health Authority will oversee cleanup operations, including waste removal.

The safety zone around the compromised tank has been reduced to 150 feet.

The emergency response to the threat of a chemical tank explosion in Garden Grove will transition to a cleanup phase Friday morning.

Meantime, people who live nearby are being asked to fill out an online survey on the city's response. The feedback will be used to improve future emergency responses and identify ways to support recovery efforts.

More legal claims have been filed against the company at the center of the chemical tank scare in Garden Grove.

Meanwhile, the EPA's emergency response team has installed 20 chemical detectors throughout the community, to ensure the air is safe.

More legal claims have been filed against the company at the center of the chemical tank scare in Garden Grove.

Thousands of residents in the area were finally able to return to their homes Tuesday, but they're now demanding answers and pushing for change.

"I hope they shut that place down," said Stanton resident Rubel Delgado. "I definitely hope they shut that place down."

GKN Aerospace released a new statement on Wednesday, the day after evacuation orders were lifted for thousands of Orange County residents.

"We understand that the past several days have been difficult for residents, businesses, and the broader Garden Grove, Stanton, and surrounding Orange County communities. We are relieved that the incident has been resolved and residents have been able to return home. We are grateful to the emergency responders, public officials, technical specialists, and nonprofit organizations who worked tirelessly throughout the response.

'On behalf of the team at GKN Aerospace, I want to say how sorry we are for the uncertainty and disruption this situation has caused," said GKN Senior Vice President Steve Carlin, who oversees the Garden Grove site's programs. "I recognize how challenging this has been, particularly over the Memorial Day holiday. We are committed to understanding what occurred and identifying ways we can support those affected.'

Throughout the response, GKN specialists worked alongside fire officials, emergency responders, outside technical experts, and local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Officials have reported that there was no chemical leak, no contamination, and have been no reported injuries.

'We are deeply grateful to OCFA and the entire first responder community for their efforts over the past several days," added Carlin. "We recognize there is more work ahead. Our focus remains on supporting the community, working closely with authorities, and continuing to ensure a safe and responsible path forward. I am personally committed to working with the Garden Grove, Stanton, and broader Orange County communities on these efforts.'

GKN Aerospace has been part of the Garden Grove community for six decades, dating back to 1966. Today, more than 500 skilled and dedicated local employees work at the site, including multi-generational families who have built careers here. The facility manufactures windows and canopies for commercial and military aircraft, as well as spacecraft.

Again, thank you to everyone who has supported the response effort over the last several days. We will continue to work closely with the appropriate authorities and remain committed to supporting our community in the days ahead."