Thousands still evacuated amid Orange County toxic chemical leak that could lead to explosion

by: Will Conybeare
Posted: May 23, 2026 / 07:28 AM PDT
Updated: May 23, 2026 / 07:28 AM PDT

Evacuations remain in place on Saturday due to a 34,000-gallon tank leaking toxic chemicals in Garden Grove

The leak was reported at the GKN Aerospace facility at 12122 Western Ave. around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Orange County Fire Authority crews responded and determined the tank was leaking methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make acrylic plastics.

The potential danger of the leak prompted authorities to evacuate roughly 40,000 residents in all areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Monarch Street, south of Orangewood Avenue and west of Beach Boulevard. Progress on the cleanup led to the evacuation orders being rescinded Thursday night; however, officials reissued them early Friday morning as crews continued monitoring chemical readings near the site.

While authorities at first seemed to get a handle on the incident, it was revealed Friday that the situation had escalated greatly overnight because crews were not able to fully stabilize the overheating 34,000-gallon tank containing the volatile and highly flammable industrial chemical.

Garden Grove tank hazmat: What to know about chemical leak health risks

“This is not precautionary… this thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,” said Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey during a Friday afternoon press conference. “We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it.”

He further elaborated on the possibilities of the leak:

“We’re doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it. There are literally two options left. One, 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.”

On Saturday morning, Orange County fire officials told KTLA that they had made progress overnight in stabilizing the temperature of the massive storage tank down but appeared to be in a “holding pattern” of sorts as they continue to work on a final solution.

The message was still not “if” but “when” a large-scale leak or explosion would occur — exactly what was relayed on Friday.

“This is going to happen unless some brilliant guy behind me here figures out how we can mitigate this incident,” OCFA Division Chief Covey said at Friday’s press conference, alluding to the crews standing behind him.

While it is known that methyl methacrylate is flammable and toxic, its effects on humans are not entirely known.

Sky5 was above the facility on Saturday morning, where Rich Prickett observed the three tanks “at the center of attention since Thursday,” and one of them appeared to have started to peel open.

“This could be the tank that has actually been compromised,” Prickett noted. “One thing that’s been working for firefighters is the cooling conditions overnight, and then of course you have the sprinkler system working overtime, and all the unmanned drones that have been keeping an eye with thermal sensors.”

Overall, Prickett observed that the situation is “still a waiting game.”

A list of phone numbers and evacuation centers for affected residents, as well as a map of the evacuation zone, can be viewed below:

 Evacuation zone map A map of the evacuation zone in the wake of a toxic chemical leak in Garden Grove. May 2026. (City of Garden Grove)

Phone numbers

•  Garden Grove 24-hour Emergency Hotline: 714-741-5444
• Orange County Public Information Hotline: 714-628-7085
• OCFA Medical Information Hotline: 714-538-2501

Evacuation centers

• Freedom Hall at Mile Square Regional Park: 16801 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley
• John F. Kennedy High School: 8281 Walker Street, La Palma (now full)
• Savanna High School: 301 North Gilbert Street, Anaheim
• Oceanview High School: 17071 Gothard Street, Huntington Beach (just opened)

In addition, all Planet Fitness locations in Orange County are open to evacuees and first responders, no membership needed. Those affected can have free access to locker rooms, showers and a place to rest with access to electrical outlets and Wi-Fi.

Certain hotels in Anaheim are also offering special rates to people displaced by the Garden Grove chemical incident.

More information on the situation from the city of Garden Grove can be accessed at this link.

Lily Dallow and Vivian Chow contributed to this report.