Garden Grove Facility Community Update

On Thursday afternoon, May 21, GKN Aerospace personnel identified elevated temperature readings in a storage tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA), a chemical used in the manufacture of high-strength aerospace acrylic materials. Action was taken immediately, and GKN began working closely with emergency response personnel.

As conditions evolved through Friday, May 22, the Orange County Fire Authority made the precautionary decision to issue mandatory evacuation orders for portions of the surrounding community to protect public safety while response operations continued.

GKN worked around the clock with the Orange County Fire Authority, the EPA, and all relevant federal, state, and local agencies to address the issue. Evacuation orders were partially lifted on Monday, May 25, and lifted in full on Tuesday, May 26, with the Orange County Fire Authority reporting that there was no risk to the public.

Orange County Fire Authority confirmed there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians during the incident.

Methyl methacrylate, or MMA, is an industrial chemical widely used in the manufacture of acrylic materials, coatings, composites, and specialty components, including aerospace applications. Like many industrial chemicals, MMA must be stored and managed within specific operating conditions. Facilities that handle MMA operate under extensive federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations.

Site response and recovery work is continuing under the oversight of the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) as the County’s Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA), and through the Unified Command, the coordinated structure for the response, which includes the OCHCA, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and GKN Aerospace. These agencies continue to conduct air and water monitoring offsite to ensure the safety of the community. Residents can find the latest site status information and monitoring data at the Orange County Health Care Agency’s website.

A review is underway to understand what took place.

No. Residents can find the latest public health information at the Orange County Health Care Agency’s website.

Any reopening will be done carefully and in coordination with the appropriate agencies and officials.

We are a global multi-technology leader in the aerospace industry with 32 manufacturing locations in 12 countries. We serve over 90% of the world's aircraft and engine manufacturers, specializing in the development and delivery of cutting-edge aerostructures and engine systems.

GKN Aerospace's facility has been part of the Garden Grove community for 60 years and today employs more than 500 people. In Garden Grove specifically, we are a world leader in advanced aerospace canopies, cabin windows, and flight deck windows for commercial and military aircraft as well as spacecraft. We have manufactured more than 2 million cabin windows for the Boeing 737. Our high-clarity transparency technology also enabled the view from Artemis II space mission back to Earth.  

GKN Aerospace has funded $3 million to Orange County United Way’s OC Community Resilience Fund to provide assistance to those affected by the recent evacuation of areas surrounding the Garden Grove facility. GKN is also committing an additional $1 million to support broader community initiatives across Orange County. These funds follow our earlier $1 million funding to the American Red Cross to support residents directly impacted by evacuation orders when those orders were in effect. We will continue evaluating additional ways to support the community.

The OC Community Resilience Fund will provide coordinated support for residents affected by the incident. Through 2-1-1 Orange County, a service of Orange County United Way, residents can connect with local health and human service resources and information about available aid.

Questions about the fund are best directed to the United Way, which will continue to administer it. The fund is intended to help those facing short-term recovery-related needs connected to the incident. At this point, the United Way has told us it will provide up to $500 per household. We encourage you to call 2-1-1 Orange County and select Option 7 for more information.

Orange County United Way is coordinating the intake and support services for assistance applications. We encourage you to call 2-1-1 Orange County and select Option 7 for more information.

Questions about the fund are best directed to the United Way, which will continue to administer it and determine eligibility. Local businesses can also find additional information and resources at the bottom of this page through the relevant city and county resources listed there.

Additional information and resources for residents and local businesses affected by the incident are also available at the bottom of this page.

We encourage you to review the resources available through your city, as well as Orange County’s incident page.