The shelter-in-place order for La Habra residents near City Hall was lifted Tuesday afternoon, following the dissipation of a large orange plume that signaled a chemical leak. The La Habra Police Department initially confirmed the leak within the neighborhoods adjacent to city hall, specifically noting it originated in the “500 block” of Cypress Street.
Residents within a one-mile radius were advised to shelter in place for several hours, with those closest to the Cypress Street site undergoing evacuation. Washington Middle School, located roughly a mile from the incident, saw its students evacuated to the Boys and Girls Club, according to former City Councilman Tim Shaw.
Responding to the incident, the LA County Fire Department, which provides fire services to La Habra, lifted the shelter-in-place order. Fire Capt. Aaron Katon stated that the leak had been mitigated and the plume had dissipated, assuring the public, “residents are not in any further danger.” Katon added that there was no advisory in place at the time. However, the department declined to identify the business where the leak originated, with Katon noting, “That’ll be for the business to do.” The specific chemicals that composed the orange plume, which was visible for hours, also remain unknown.
Despite the lifted shelter-in-place, several streets remained closed into the early afternoon. A post from the La Habra Police Department, made just before 2:30 p.m., stated, “Cypress Street from Lambert Rd. to La Habra Blvd will remain closed until further notice.” Earlier posts from the police department's Instagram page indicated closures for “All areas east of Euclid Street to Harbor Blvd and Cypress Street between La Habra and Lambert,” advising the public to stay out of the area while evacuations were underway.
This incident marks the second chemical event in Orange County this year. An earlier incident in Garden Grove forced the evacuation of over 50,000 residents due to a chemical tank nearly exploding. These events have prompted increased scrutiny and questions regarding the regulation of local chemical companies and industrial facilities situated within residential neighborhoods. State legislators earlier this year adopted new legislation aimed at reversing certain exemptions for industrial businesses in such areas, though Governor Newsom has not yet signed the bill into law.
