Several blocks in Garden Grove were evacuated Thursday afternoon after a leaking 34,000-gallon storage tank at an aerospace company released methyl methacrylate, a volatile—and potentially flammable—chemical used to make plastic.
Several blocks in Garden Grove emptied Thursday afternoon after a leaking storage tank at an aerospace company started spewing a volatile chemical into the air.
Orange County Fire Authority crews responded to reports of a hazardous materials incident at a business in the 12000 block of Western Avenue at 3:30 p.m. according to Orange County Fire Authority spokesperson Larry Kurtz. When they arrived. firefighters determined that methyl methacrylate—described as a volatile liquid used to make plastic—was leaking from a 34. 000-gallon vat.
Kurtz said the company’s work explains the chemical involved. “The company actually creates acrylic plastics for the aerospace industry and that’s the reason for the chemical,” he said. He cautioned that methyl methacrylate presents more than one risk. “The problem with this chemical is it is a possible flammable liquid and it does have exothermic properties.” In other words. Kurtz said it can release heat when a reaction is triggered.
The incident appeared to involve GKN Aerospace, which builds engine structures, landing gear and other products for commercial and military aircraft.
To minimize potential health risk, areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Monarch Street, south of Orangewood Avenue and west of Beach Boulevard were evacuated. Authorities set up a reunification point at Rancho Alamitos High School, located at 11351 Dale St.
Kurtz characterized the response as a precaution. “The evacuations were a precautionary measure, ‘so if anything bad were to happen, we’re dealing with property damage and not life safety.’”
At the scene, the Fire Department was spraying water at the tank to cool down the chemical, Kurtz said. The leak also triggered the business’ automatic sprinkler system.
Mitigating the chemical leak, Kurtz said, would take a couple of hours. After that, investigators would focus on determining the cause of the incident.
Garden Grove Orange County Fire Authority hazardous materials incident methyl methacrylate evacuation aerospace company GKN Aerospace Rancho Alamitos High School
So they just… spray water and hope for the best? That sounds sketchy.
My cousin said it was “plastic smoke” and now I’m like??? If it can release heat, does that mean it could’ve caught fire while they were cooling it??
Exothermic properties sounds like science for “it gets worse fast.” I live near there and I didn’t even know anything happened until later on Facebook. Hope they checked everyone’s houses not just the school.
Evacuations were a precaution?? Like what’s the point then if it’s flammable and volatile. Also why is this stuff in a tank that big (34,000 gallons) near neighborhoods. Sounds like they should’ve moved it years ago.