Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate their homes in Garden Grove, California, due to a failing chemical tank that could leak or explode.
Firefighters cooled the tank with water to stabilize it and buy time, officials said.
The tank contains methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical used in plastics and manufacturing. Officials warned of two possible outcomes: a leak or an explosion.
The evacuation zone covers about 40,000 residents, though roughly 15% refuse to leave, police said. Three shelters have been set up.
Health officials monitor air quality and have not detected any toxic vapors so far, urging residents to stay away from the zone.
