California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County on Saturday as authorities urgently seek a safe resolution to a leaking hazardous chemical tank at an aerospace facility.
“The well-being of Orange County residents is our highest priority,” Newsom stated. “We are deploying all available state resources to assist local responders and ensure the community has what they require for safety.”
As per Orange County Fire Authority Chief Craig Covey, temperatures within the tank are still increasing, posing a “significantly dangerous” situation that has led to the evacuation of over 50,000 residents, according to officials.
Initially, it was thought that temperatures were decreasing inside the Garden Grove industrial tank, which is estimated to hold 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate. However, after crews undertook a hazardous operation within the danger zone, it was revealed that temperatures were escalating at approximately one degree per hour, rising from 77 degrees to 90 degrees by Friday night.
“We did endanger personnel last night … while trying to go in and neutralize the additional tank,” Covey explained in a video shared on X on Saturday, indicating that teams accessed the area to ensure stability of an additional tank adjacent to the leaking one.
During a news briefing on Friday, Covey remarked that the situation was among the worst he had encountered in his 32 years of service. He made a striking comment by suggesting there were only two possible outcomes to the crisis.
“There are literally two remaining options: One, the tank fails and discharges about [6,000] to 7,000 gallons of highly hazardous chemicals into the parking lot and surrounding area,” Covey noted. “Or two, the tank undergoes a thermal runaway and explodes, impacting nearby tanks containing fuel or chemicals.”
On Saturday, he mentioned that they are exploring potential third options.
“Allowing this situation to fail and explode is unacceptable to us,” Covey stated. “We are determined to find a solution to prevent that.”
He added that innovative thinking is necessary and that the OCFA is consulting experts nationwide for assistance. It remains uncertain whether state or federal authorities will come to Garden Grove to aid in the crisis.
Covey also indicated that there are contingency plans ready to be implemented should the toxic and volatile liquid leak or explode.
The extent and danger of a potential explosion remain unclear, and the timeline is still unknown.
In a post to X, OCFA Division Chief Nick Freeman displayed a map illustrating the potential blast radius if the tank were to explode. Garden Grove Mayor Pro-Tem George S. Brietigam later shared a higher-quality image of the map on Facebook.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated in a comment that she is closely following the situation in Orange County.
“The Los Angeles Fire Department has confirmed that Los Angeles is not affected and there is no danger to the city,” she noted. “The LAFD continues to stay in close contact with the Orange County Fire Authority and Cal OES, sending a Hazmat Specialist to serve as a subject matter expert. The LAFD is ready to provide any further assistance and resources if necessary. All Angelenos should avoid the area.”
What is methyl methacrylate and what are the health impacts of exposure?
Health professionals stated that methyl methacrylate—a flammable plastic epoxy that generates its own heat—is a respiratory irritant and potential exposure could result in lung, skin, and eye irritation, as well as nausea and dizziness. The chemical is heavier than air, meaning its vapor would settle and accumulate.
Air monitoring is ongoing, and drones are tracking the temperature of the tank, officials noted.
Experts indicate that the substance has a boiling point lower than that of water and possesses self-heating properties, which could induce a “runaway effect.”
“In an uncontrolled environment with a leak, there could be significant amounts in the atmosphere; any spark or increase in temperature might initiate what is known as a runaway reaction,” stated USC Assistant Professor of Chemistry Elias Picazo. “During polymerization, the exothermic reaction releases heat. … Heat triggers the reaction, but the reaction itself produces heat, leading to an uncontrolled ‘runaway’ situation that could result in fires or explosions, causing pressure to build rapidly.”
Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong explained that individuals who ignore evacuation orders might smell vapors from the chemical. It has a potent fruity smell, she noted, but detecting the odor does not imply that symptoms will manifest.
“If you are not in the evacuation zone, we do not anticipate any health impacts,” she affirmed. “If you have been instructed to evacuate, please do so.”
When did the Garden Grove chemical leak start?
Emergency crews arrived on Thursday afternoon at the GKN Aerospace facility in the 12000 block of Western Avenue in Garden Grove after receiving a hazardous materials alert shortly before 3:40 p.m. that day, as stated by OCFA.
Initially, the chemical in the industrial tank maintained the same temperature, officials reported. However, around four hours after firefighters’ arrival, temperatures began to rise, triggering a relief valve and sprinkler system near the tank. Firefighters reported that the sprinkler safety mechanism is designed to cool the tank in case of leakage.
The OCFA mentioned that crews initially made headway in extracting the chemical substance but determined by Friday morning that the “tank facing the greatest crisis cannot be secured and managed.”
The source of the leak is under investigation. No injuries have been reported.
Orange County evacuations
Orange County officials extended evacuation orders on Friday for residences within a one-mile radius across several cities, including Garden Grove, Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster. Evacuation orders were issued for individuals residing within the zone that included:
- Western border extended to Valley View St.
- Northern border extended to Ball Rd.
- Southern border extended to Trask Ave.
- Eastern border extended to Dale St.
No estimated timeline has been provided for when evacuation orders will be lifted.
Evacuation centers are located at:
Garden Grove (Not overnight): Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center, 13641 Deodara Dr.
Cypress: Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave.
Anaheim: Savannah High School, 301 N. Gilbert Street
Fountain Valley: Mountain Square Regional Park-Freedom Hall at 16801 Euclid Street
La Palma: John F. Kennedy High School at 8281 Walker Street
Huntington Beach: Ocean View High School at 17071 Gothard Street
Safety information
For inquiries, please contact the City of Garden Grove 24-hour call center at (714) 741- 5444 or visit: ggcity.org/emergency
For public information, call the Orange County hotline at (714) 628-7085.
Cancellations and closures
Officials from the Garden Grove Unified School District closed 15 campuses on Friday morning and stated they will remain shut until further notice as they continue to monitor the situation.
City officials announced that the annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will proceed as scheduled, but the 5k marathon and parade planned for Saturday have been canceled.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley also mentioned that the County of Orange Registrar of Voters had closed the Garden Grove Sports and Recreation Center Vote Center on Saturday, repurposing it as a care and shelter site.
Disneyland representatives informed CBS LA that the resort is not currently affected by the incident and will remain open for guests. They are closely monitoring the situation and following guidance from local authorities.
A spokesperson for Knott’s Berry Farm also issued a statement regarding the situation, confirming that the park will remain open and has prepared a safety team for emergency responses to guide guests as needed.
“The safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members is fundamental to our business. We are collaborating closely with our partners at the Orange County Fire Authority to actively monitor the situation,” the statement emphasized. “At present, the park remains unaffected.”
CBS LA has contacted the Los Angeles Angels, who are scheduled to play at Angel Stadium in Anaheim at 7 p.m. on Saturday night, and are awaiting a response.
