Garden Grove Hazmat Crisis: Map Of Updated Evacuation Zone

GARDEN GROVE, CA — A 34,000-gallon chemical tank at an aerospace facility is poised to potentially spill thousands of gallons of toxic material, or possibly even explode in Garden Grove, according to fire officials.

The incident, which was reported in Garden Grove Thursday triggered mass evacuation orders and school closures throughout Garden Grove and surrounding cities.

The leak at GKN Aerospace at Western and Lampson avenues was initially reported around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Orange County Fire Authority officials said an industrial chemical had become overheated inside a 34,000-gallon tank, prompting a release of vapors into the air.

Evacuation orders were re-issued Friday morning for the area north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Springdale Avenue, west of Dale Street and south of Orangewood Avenue, according to the Garden Grove Police Department.

As of 10:40 a.m., evacuation zones were updated to include north of Trask Avenue, south of Ball Road, east of Valley View Street and west of Dale Street.

"There are literally two options left remaining. One: The tank fails and spills a total of about 6 to 7k gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area," Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey. "Or two: The tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up affecting the tanks that are around them that have fuel or chemicals in them as well."

"We need to emphasize that [residents follow] these evacuation orders," Covey said.

"There is no active gas leak no plume in the area," he added. "We are setting up these evacuations in preparation for these two options: It fails or it blows up."

RELATED: 'The Tanks Could Blow': Toxic Chemical Cloud Forces Massive Evacuation In Orange County