Chemical Leak at Garden Grove Aerospace Facility Prompts Evacuations

A hazardous chemical leak at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, California, has led to evacuation orders affecting approximately 40,000 residents. The incident began on Thursday afternoon when a 34,000-gallon storage tank at GKN Aerospace, located in the 12000 block of Western Avenue, started leaking methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable chemical used in plastic manufacturing.

Initial efforts to control the leak included cooling the tank with water and activating the facility's automatic sprinkler system. However, by Friday morning, a valve on the tank became inoperable, causing the situation to escalate. Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey stated, "We have a tank that is actively in crisis... The tank that is in the biggest crisis is, in fact, unable to be secured and mitigated."

Evacuation orders were issued for parts of Garden Grove and five surrounding cities: Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster. The affected area is bounded by Ball Road to the north, Trask Avenue to the south, Valley View Street to the west, and Dale Avenue to the east. Several schools within this zone, including Barker Elementary, Bryant Elementary, and Pacifica High School, were closed as a precaution.

Emergency response teams have established containment barriers with sandbags to prevent the chemical from entering storm drains or reaching nearby water bodies. No injuries have been reported, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Residents are urged to follow evacuation orders and avoid the impacted areas until further notice.