What we know about GKN Aerospace, the firm at center of O.C. chemical leak

A chemical leak in Orange County triggered evacuations on Friday and was traced to GKN Aerospace, a United Kingdom-based aerospace manufacturing company. The Garden Grove facility, operating since 2004, designs, analyzes, tests, and certifies military canopies, cockpit windows, and passenger windows. The company manufactures the F-35 canopy and transparencies for multiple commercial aircraft models. GKN Aerospace said it was responding with fire crews and specialized hazardous materials teams, with no reported injuries at the time. The leak involved methyl methacrylate (MMA), a highly toxic chemical used to make plastic. Three large tanks containing MMA were located at the 12,000 block of Western Avenue, including one described as “in crisis” with about 7,000 gallons remaining.

"GKN Aerospace manufactures the world-leading F-35 canopy from its Garden Grove facility, as well as transparencies for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737, the Airbus A350, HondaJet and Bombardier C-Series, the company's website states."

"A spokesperson for GKN Aerospace told The Times on Friday that they are responding to the situation and working with fire crews and specialized hazardous materials teams. "There are no reports of injuries at this time, and our priority remains the safety of our employees, responders, and the surrounding community," the spokesperson said. "The situation at our Garden Grove site remains ongoing, and we are fully focused on working with emergency services and the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our employees and the local community.""

"There are three large tanks with a highly toxic chemical called methyl methacrylate, or MMA, used to make plastic, at the site in the 12000 block of Western Avenue in Garden Grove. One tank that officials have said is "in crisis" has about 7,000 gallons of the chemical left in it. It started experiencing a rise in temperatures on Thursday, which triggered temporary evacuations. But fire crews were called out to the site again on Friday."

Read at Los Angeles Times