Anaheim officials said on May 22 that they are monitoring an industrial incident in Garden Grove which has led to the evacuation of homes and other properties in west Anaheim.
The evacuations have been carried out as a precaution, with the affected site located about three miles south of west Anaheim at Western Avenue, south of Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove. The incident involves an overheating chemical tank at an aerospace company. Efforts are ongoing to cool the tank using sprinklers and firehoses.
According to city information released midday, the tank contains methyl methacrylate, a precursor chemical used for making hard plastic components for aerospace purposes. Incident managers expect a probable implosion of the tank due to rising heat and pressure unless another solution is found. “We do not have an estimate at this time when evacuations will be lifted,” officials said. Approximately 1,100 homes are under evacuation orders from Dale Street to Valley View Street just over the city line in Cypress, past Holder Street, and from Cerritos Avenue on the south to Ball Road on the north.
A care and reception center has been set up at Savanna High School at 301 N. Gilbert St., while graduation events for Western High School scheduled for Friday have been canceled. Officials said there has not been any significant release of chemicals into the air so far; air quality continues to be closely monitored. Hazardous materials teams remain on standby should an implosion occur.
Orange County Fire Authority is leading management of the incident with support from Garden Grove Police, Anaheim Police, and Anaheim Fire & Rescue. Residents are encouraged to follow City of Anaheim social media channels for real-time updates.
Anaheim operates under a City Council/City Manager system designed to serve residents and businesses, according to its official website. The city is known as a prominent family vacation spot due in part to attractions like Disneyland and major sports teams such as the Angels baseball team who won the 2002 MLB World Series, according to its official website.
