Federal agents served a search warrant at GKN Aerospace, a aerospace facility in Southern California where a chemical tank overheated weeks ago, forcing 50,000 residents to evacuate over fears of an explosion. Video from NBC Los Angeles’ chopper showed agents at the facility at the center of the crisis, which began when a toxic chemical storage tank containing methyl methacrylate started overheating and building dangerous pressure. The FBI confirmed it was executing a search warrant signed by a federal judge last week, authorizing the seizure of documents and records related to the “storage, use, or disposal” of the chemical. The warrant includes a general list of items to be seized, such as samples of substances inside any container with methyl methacrylate — the toxic material inside the tanks — or any hazardous material, documents involving the storage or handling of the toxic chemical used in plastics, records on risk analyses of GKN’s equipment, complaints by employees about the hazardous materials and other items. “We are cooperating with authorities at our Garden Grove facility and will continue to do so,” a GKN spokesperson said. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued a statement about the search. “From day one, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has been on the ground and fully engaged in our investigation into potential criminal acts by GKN related to the May 21, 2026, hazmat incident,” Spitzer said. “I am encouraged that the federal government has followed our lead and launched a parallel investigation into the activities at GKN. I welcome any prosecutorial and regulatory agency review to ensure that the 50,000 victims who were forced to evacuate their homes as a result of this emergency situation receive the full restitution to which they are entitled.” Abouty 50,000 residents in Garden Grove and Stanton were evacuated for days during the Memorial Day weekend as authorities worked to neutralize the toxic chemical inside the tank. Firefighters said it appeared the tank would either explode or spill its toxic contents after a problem with the valve used to release pressure. A blast radius map was released to the public that showed which areas would be most affected if the situation led to an explosion and toxic plume. Ultimately, a crack in the damaged tank relieved pressure, allowing authorities to give the all-clear for residents to return home days later. Crews were planning to remove the remaining methyl methacrylate, or MMA, from two tanks next to the one that was damaged at GKN Aerospace. The operation was stalled due to a delay in delivery of sealed trucks needed for the job. When the operation occurs, workers will pump the MMA out of two storage tanks and into the sealed trucks, which will take the chemicals away for disposal. On Tuesday night, a GKN Aerospace executive spoke at a community meeting about the crisis and what happens next. “On behalf of GKN and the Garden Grove plant, I want to say I am sorry that this event occurred,” senior vice president of GKN Aerospace Steve Carlin said. The city’s mayor asked whether the company would remove the chemical from its site. “We are still very early in the stages of actually investigating and reviewing exactly what happened on May  21j,” he said. “So, it’d be too early for us to draw any conclusions one way or the other.” ...read more read less