Residents were back in their homes near a chemical tank that overheated in Southern California. But many said Wednesday they have lingering fears over the risks of living next to an aerospace plant that has faced problems over the years. Officials lifted the final evacuation orders Tuesday night after temperatures inside the tank spiked last week and forced 50,000 people to evacuate in and around the Orange County city of Garden Grove. A crack that formed by chance on the tank relieved pressure and helped avert a catastrophic explosion. GKN Aerospace has apologized for the crisis and says it is cooperating with authorities.

Officials have lifted evacuation orders for final 16,000 residents near a damaged chemical tank in California. Officials had said earlier that the risk of a catastrophic explosion had largely passed. Officials had ordered evacuations in the Orange County city of Garden Grove last Thursday after the tank at an aerospace plant overheated. The tank contains methyl methacrylate, which is highly flammable. Health officials have assured residents that there was no contamination or fumes released. Officials say they will keep monitoring the air for several months and checking the sewer and storm drains.

Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode. An evacuation order has continued into the Memorial Day weekend for 50,000 residents of Garden Grove and several surrounding communities with no timeline on when they can return. No injuries were reported after the pressurized tank began overheating Thursday. Firefighters hope to find a way to cool off the chemical inside the tank so it won’t leak or explode. Experts say a leak would be much better than an explosion. Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County. Several shelters remain open, including at three schools.