Orange County firefighters cool Garden Grove tank after methyl methacrylate leak

Orange County firefighters responded to a hazardous materials leak at a garden grove facility just before 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday after an industrial tank began leaking methyl methacrylate in the 12000 block of Western Avenue. No one was injured.

Western Avenue evacuation zone

Crews evacuated the area east of Western Avenue, south of Orangewood Avenue, west of Beach Boulevard and north of Garden Grove Boulevard while firefighters worked the scene. Aerial footage showed a high-powered hose spraying the tank as crews tried to keep the chemical cool.

Methyl methacrylate tank response

The Orange County Fire Authority said the tank’s sprinkler safety system is designed to cool it if it starts leaking, and crews would provide additional water if needed. The chemical’s temperature had not risen when the report was issued, and it was unclear what caused the leak.

The building houses a company that develops plastic components for the aerospace industry, which made the leak a direct concern for the workplace and the surrounding block. Crews stayed focused on preventing the tank from heating up further while the evacuation perimeter remained in place around the affected streets.