Orange County fire officials said on Monday that the risk of a catastrophic chemical tank explosion at an aerospace facility has been eliminated.
However, evacuations remain in place for approximately 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, California.
“The crisis is not averted,” said interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority TJ McGovern, according to The New York Times.
“Let me be clear. Evacuation zones are still in place. The threat is not eliminated," he added.
There is no longer a risk of a compromised chemical tank exploding in the suburbs of Los Angeles, but evacuation orders for more than 50,000 people remain in effect, the Orange County Fire Authority said https://t.co/TalsxoofmI https://t.co/dUPAFWmB9e
— Bloomberg (@business) May 25, 2026
More from The New York Times:
In an interview with the TV station KTLA, Mr. McGovern said that the tank could still leak or explode, though not to the extent they first feared.
That threat, he said, means that evacuation orders were still in place for more than 40,000 residents who live near the industrial site in Garden Grove, Calif., as local authorities assessed whether it was safe for residents to return home.
The statements on Monday came after the authorities said that a crack had continued to relieve pressure in the tank, dropping temperatures inside.
On Sunday night, the authorities said, firefighters — who have been hosing down the 22-year-old tank for days in an attempt to cool it — removed insulation to hasten their progress.
“The trajectory is headed in the right direction for the first time since Thursday,” Thomas J. Umberg, a state senator who represents the area that has been evacuated, said on Monday.
“The challenge now is that people want to get back in their homes,” he said, adding, “and they can’t go back until it’s safe.”
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state had secured a presidential emergency declaration from the Trump administration, which could help displaced people and businesses that closed.
"This is a positive development. Thank you to the hundreds of first responders, hazardous materials teams, and emergency personnel working around the clock to protect Orange County families," Newsom said.
"Families in the impacted area should continue following all local evacuation orders and guidance from local officials as crews continue to contain the situation and monitor air quality," he added.
This is a positive development. Thank you to the hundreds of first responders, hazardous materials teams, and emergency personnel working around the clock to protect Orange County families.
Families in the impacted area should continue following all local evacuation orders and… https://t.co/Haga76D9gc
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) May 25, 2026
The Associated Press shared further:
Covey didn’t say in the recorded message what the most likely outcome might be but officials had previously said they hoped to cool off the chemical inside the tank so it wouldn’t leak or explode. The tank’s interior had cooled to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C), Covey said, down from 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) Sunday.
After the tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors, firefighters have repeatedly sprayed the tank with water in an attempt to cool the chemical inside, methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts. As the interior temperature rises, methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas and increases the pressure, according to Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton.
Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical.
Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed.
Kim Yen, a retiree who has evacuated from her home in Garden Grove, said she’s been following the news on an “hourly basis,” and was pleased to hear in the latest update that there was no longer a risk of an explosion.
“According to that update I am happy and many of us are happy, but still, we are still on our evacuation,” she said.
Yen, who lives just two blocks from the plant, said that while she’s ready to return home, she wants to make sure it’s safe before she does. And, she said, she’s been worried about the emergency crews.
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