Thousands evacuated in Garden Grove as officials worry toxic chemicals in tank could explode

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Thousands evacuated in Garden Grove as officials worry toxic chemicals in tank could explode

Lily Dallow
18 hours ago

Thousands of Orange County residents remained under evacuation orders Friday after officials warned that a massive storage tank leaking hazardous chemicals at a Garden Grove aerospace facility could potentially rupture or explode.

Fire officials said in a news conference Friday that the situation had escalated significantly overnight and warned that crews had been unable to fully stabilize the overheating 34,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate, a volatile and highly flammable industrial chemical.

“This is not precautionary… this thing is gonna fail, and we don’t know when,” said 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.” ... By late Thursday afternoon, the tank’s temperature had stabilized a bit, which officials said has provided crews more time to figure out a solution.

The Orange County Fire Authority said around 6:30 a.m. Friday that evacuation orders were being reissued “due to changing conditions” as hazmat crews continued mitigation efforts at the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue in Garden Grove.

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[Brother Buzz]

1. Live updates: Orange County toxic tank on path to spill or explode; experts searching for solutions

Live updates: Orange County toxic tank on path to spill or explode; experts searching for solutions

Last updated: Sunday, May 24, 2026 12:18AM PDT

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- An urgent situation is unfolding in Garden Grove, where a chemical tank at the GKN Aerospace facility has been unstable for several days and is on a path to imminent failure.

Authorities say it will likely either spill thousands of gallons of a highly toxic chemical or, even worse, explode if it fails.

The "crisis situation" has forced 50,000 people out of their homes, leaving them wondering when this will all end. Some schools were also closed on Friday.

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) says a crew went into the site overnight, despite the life-threatening conditions. The crew was able to see an internal temperature gauge, showing that the temperature has been rising about one degree per hour since Thursday morning.

Now, authorities are preparing for the tank to fail, as well as talking to experts from across the country to find any alternative solutions.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County, making additional state resources and shelter sites available.

https://abc7.com/live-updates/garden-grove-chemical-tank-emergency-leaking-toxic-chemicals-orange-county-will-spill-explode-officials-say/19152918/#