May 23, 2026, 4:18 p.m. ET
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Orange County, California, where tens of thousands of residents are under evacuation as officials brace for a chemical spill, or explosion, Saturday, May 23.
The proclamation directs state government agencies to support the county and local jurisdictions to address the emergency in Southern California, according to Newsom’s office. It also “unlocks additional emergency response resources and authorities, including making state-owned properties and fairgrounds available to provide shelter for evacuated residents, as necessary,” Newsom’s office said.
What’s happening in Orange County, California?
Roughly 40,000 people have been evacuated due to a tank containing roughly 7,000 gallons of a toxic industrial chemical that officials warn is likely to either spill out or lead to an explosion. The tank is at GKN Aerospace’s site in Garden Grove, a city in Orange County, and it contains methyl methacrylate, an industrial chemical used in plastics and manufacturing.
A fire official gave a grim assessment of the “unprecedented” situation on Friday, May 22.
“One, the tank fails and spills a total of about 6-7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot and that area,” Craig Covey, a division chief with Orange County Fire Authority, said. “Or two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks … around them” containing “fuel or the chemicals in them as well.”
Officials have reached out to experts nationwide, including with the Environmental Protection Agency, hazmat experts and more to determine the best way to contain the incident, according to Steve Concialdi, Orange County Fire Authority captain.
Officials are also working on response plans should there be a spill or explosion, Covey said. In the event of a spill, officials are working to divert the liquid to a spot that can be a “holding area.”
“We’re looking for places that we can push this fluid, should it fail, and try to prevent it from getting into our storm drains, our river channels and ultimately into the ocean doing an environmental disaster,” Covey said.
Multiple evacuation centers have been opened for residents impacted by this incident. It’s not immediately clear as to how long people may remain under evacuation for.
State of emergency proclamations have been issued amid major fires and storms in California.
Where is Garden Grove and Orange County? See map
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
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