OAN Staff Jenna Lee
Saturday, May 23, 2026
UPDATE: 1:56 P.M. – California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in light of an ongoing chemical leak in Garden Grove that has led to the evacuation of about 40,000 people and still carries the potential for an explosion.
The governor’s office announced the emergency declaration at around noon Saturday, just two days after the incident was first reported at GKN Aerospace on Western Avenue.
“Taking proactive steps to protect Californians, Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a state of emergency proclamation for Orange County as the state continues to assist in local response efforts following a hazardous chemical incident at an aerospace facility that has resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents from the surrounding area,” said the governor’s office in a statement.
Newsom added that the top priority is the safety of the Orange County residents, and that his office is mobilizing “every state resource available” to help local first responders keep communities safe.
The emergency declaration gives Californians time to ramp up its response as authorities scramble to contain the situation and provide assistance to displaced families across the evacuation region.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs also said that her agency is “committed to a unified, whole-of-government response” to keep Garden Grove and the surrounding areas safe.
“Cal OES continues to work alongside our local partners to support the ongoing hazardous materials response operation. Our role is to coordinate resources, share critical information, and ensure local responders have all the resources necessary to safely respond to this dynamic situation,” said Jacobs.
Following the state emergency declaration, the governor announced that two additional evacuation centers have opened, joining the four centers already operating. The shelters are located across Orange County in cities including Garden Grove, Cypress, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, La Palma and Fountain Valley.
It is not yet clear when residents will be allowed to return home as emergency crews continue working to contain the hazardous conditions surrounding the aerospace facility.
9:30 AM – Fire officials ordered tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes on Friday in Garden Grove, an Orange County suburb near the Los Angeles County border, due to a failing chemical tank that will either leak or explode.
Authorities determined that methyl methacrylate (MMA), a volatile and flammable chemical used to produce components in the aerospace industry, has been overheating and venting from the 34,000-gallon tank since Thursday night.
“At that point, we know the tank is going into thermal runaway. And we’re going to pull everybody out of the area, make sure it’s safe and let the tank do what it’s going to do,” Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said during a Friday news conference, emphasizing that “people need to get out of their houses and get into a safe space.”
Evacuations have been implemented around the failing tank in six Orange County cities, including Garden Grove, Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.
The tank is located at a manufacturing plant owned by GKN Aerospace, a United Kingdom-based company that produces jet engine components and other products for military and civilian aircraft, supplying these parts to companies such as Airbus and Boeing.
On Friday, the tank was described to be “in crisis,” holding between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate.
“There are literally two options left remaining. The tank fails and spills a total of about [6,000] to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area. Or, two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks around them that have fuel or chemicals in them as well,” explained Covey.
Short-term exposure to MMA can cause irritation in the lungs and nasal passages, as well as nausea and dizziness. Very high levels of exposure can cause severe respiratory distress and hospitalization, according to Orange County health officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong.
Officials state that MMA is heavier than air, meaning it would settle and sink into lower areas around the tank should it escape or explode.
“There are no reports of injuries at this time, and our priority remains the safety of our employees, responders, and the surrounding community. 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,” said a spokesperson for GKN Aerospace.
Although there was no toxic impact to the air as of Friday afternoon, officials continue to monitor the situation closely.
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