A chemical leak from a 34,000-gallon tank at an aerospace company in Garden Grove prompted evacuations for nearby residents not once, but twice.
It started on Thursday at around 3:30 p.m. when firefighters responded to the 12100 block of Western Ave. for a vapor release from the gallon tank, which was containing methyl methacrylate, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
Fire officials later announced that evacuation orders were issued for residents in the north of Garden Grove Blvd, east of Springdale Ave., west of Dale St. and south of Orangewood Ave. The gym at Rancho Alamitos High School at 11351 Dale St. was turned into a reunification site for evacuees.
OC Fire Authority Captain Sean Doran told KNX News that the evacuation was because the fluid, which is used to make plastics, is potentially flammable.
“Any time we put an evacuation warning order shelter in place, whatever the case is, we do that out of an abundance of caution, and we understand the impact it has on our community,” he explained. “It's no small ask to look to our community to leave their home. “
He says they cleared the area not only for the sake of the nearby residents but to allow them to bring in the resources they needed.
In the early morning hours of Friday, residents were allowed to return home. Then, around 6:30 a.m., OCFA officials reissued evacuation orders as a precautionary measure, citing “changing conditions.”
At 10:43 a.m., the evacuation zones were updated to north of Trask Ave., south of Ball Rd., east of Valley View St., and west of Dale St.
Street closures continue at Western and Chapman Avenues to allow for the clean-up and investigation.
Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center and Stanton City Hall and Community Center are serving as evacuation centers.
Garden Grove Unified School District officials announced the following schools were closed on Friday due to the chemical leak:
- Barker Elementary School
- Bryant
- Carver
- Enders Elementary School
- Garden Park
- Lawrence Elementary School
- Wakeham Elementary School
- Patton Elementary School
- Bell Intermediate School
- Alamitos Intermediate
- Pacifica High School
- Rancho Alamitos High School
- Skylark Preschool
- Maintenance and Operations Facility
- Lampson Bus Yard
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