A significant leak of toxic chemicals from a large tank at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove led to another evacuation order on Friday, following a similar order issued just a day earlier.
This incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon in the 12100 block of Western Avenue when a tank storing 34,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate began releasing steam, as reported by the Orange County Fire Department.
The chemical in question is commonly used in manufacturing processes, particularly in creating plastics.
The leak was traced back to the GKN aerospace factory, according to local reports.
Firefighters noted that the tank’s temperature rose, activating a safety valve intended to release steam safely.
An overhead sprinkler system was employed to cool down the tank, which helped stabilize vapor conditions as the liquid’s temperature dropped.
Firefighters also utilized large unmanned hoses to manage the situation, with support from industrial cleanup contractors to assist in the operation.
Initially, evacuation orders affected areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Monarch Street, south of Orangewood Avenue, and west of Beach Boulevard.
For evacuees, the gymnasium at Rancho Alamitos High School became a designated site for reunions.
Although the residential evacuation was lifted later, road closures persisted within specific areas as cleanup continued.
However, on Friday morning, officials reinstated the evacuation order as a safety precaution while cleanup efforts remained active.
This new evacuation zone included areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Springdale Avenue, west of Dale Street, and south of Orangewood Avenue.
A notice reportedly sent to families within the Garden Grove Unified School District indicated that some schools would be closed due to “ongoing containment efforts” related to the incident, although this could not be verified at the time.
Schools mentioned in the notice included Pacifica High School, Rancho Alamitos High School, and several elementary and middle schools.
Emergency responders also evacuated a one-mile radius surrounding Chapman Avenue and Western Avenue, working diligently to contain the incident safely.
OCFA remarked that the tank valve had become inoperable, which posed further challenges in managing the situation, making complete mitigation difficult for now.
Representatives from the facility and industry staff have been actively overseeing the containment and removal processes.
Assistance came from the Garden Grove Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, as well as OC Health.
OCFA acknowledged the burden this situation placed on local communities and noted that efforts to cool the tank had been successful, with some progress being made toward product removal.
Updates would be provided as the situation unfolds, although the cause of the leak remains unclear.
