United States, Washington: Authorities ordered a Garden Grove evacuation in Southern California after an overheated chemical tank at a GKN Aerospace facility threatened to spill toxic material or explode.
The incident began on Thursday at the plant on Western Avenue in Garden Grove, California. The 34,000-gallon tank contains methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical used in the production of plastics.
***CRITICAL INCIDENT UPDATE***
Unified Incident Commander Craig Covey providing this morning‘s update. pic.twitter.com/er52WXgh3J
— OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) May 23, 2026The Associated Press reported that about 40,000 residents were under evacuation orders across Garden Grove and parts of nearby cities, including Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster. Emergency shelters remained open Saturday.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said crews had two main outcomes left: a chemical spill of about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons or a thermal runaway that could trigger an explosion.
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Firefighters continued spraying water onto the tank while drones monitored internal temperatures. AP reported that crews also set up sandbag barriers to reduce contamination risk if the tank failed.
No injuries had been reported, and officials said nearby attractions, including Disneyland, were not inside the evacuation area, according to AP and The Guardian. Knott’s Berry Farm also remained open while monitoring the situation.
