ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County as crews race to contain a leaking toxic chemical tank at an aerospace facility, a fast-moving incident that has forced evacuations across several cities and left officials warning that the situation remains highly dangerous.
The emergency declaration, issued Saturday, underscores the urgency of a crisis that has unfolded over several days in northern Orange County. According to officials, temperatures inside the tank continue to rise, making the leak increasingly difficult to control and raising concerns about a possible escalation if the chemical cannot be stabilized safely.
Orange County Fire Authority Chief Craig Covey said the situation is “significantly dangerous,” noting that crews had initially made progress but later determined that the tank at the center of the crisis could not be secured or mitigated in its current state. The chemical involved is methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable substance commonly used in plastics and epoxy products that can generate heat on its own under certain conditions.
Officials have said no injuries have been reported so far, but the scale of the emergency has already prompted large-scale evacuation orders affecting more than 50,000 residents. The evacuation zone includes neighborhoods in Garden Grove, Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster, with the affected area extending roughly one mile around the facility, according to local authorities.
Newsom said the state is working closely with local and federal responders to protect residents and emergency personnel. In his emergency proclamation, he authorized the use of state resources to support response and recovery efforts in the county as officials continue trying to reduce the risk posed by the damaged tank.
“The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority,” Newsom said, as the state mobilized support for the local response effort.
Fire officials said the leak has created a complex hazard because of the chemical’s heat-producing properties and the challenge of handling the tank without worsening the condition. Air monitoring has been ongoing, and drones are being used to track the temperature of the tank as responders look for a safe method to stabilize the site.
While the problem has caused widespread concern in Orange County, officials with the Los Angeles Fire Department have said the incident does not pose a risk to the city of Los Angeles. Health experts have also said residents outside the evacuation zone should not expect health impacts from the leak, though those living nearby have been urged to comply with orders and stay away until authorities announce it is safe to return.
Methyl methacrylate can irritate the lungs, skin and eyes, and exposure may cause nausea, dizziness and breathing problems, officials said. Because the compound is both flammable and capable of self-heating, emergency crews have been working cautiously to avoid triggering additional hazards while trying to bring the situation under control.
The leak was first reported at an aerospace facility, though officials have not yet publicly identified the exact cause. The investigation into how the tank became damaged remains ongoing. As of now, authorities have not given an estimate for when evacuation orders may be lifted, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the stability of the tank and the pace of the response.
Orange County officials expanded evacuation orders on Friday after concluding that the situation had worsened and that additional homes needed to be cleared. Emergency shelters have been opened for displaced residents, including the Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center, the Cypress Community Center and Savannah High School in Anaheim. Officials have also established a public information hotline for residents seeking updates and assistance.
The incident has drawn broad attention because of the potential consequences of a failure at the facility and the number of people affected across multiple cities. With temperatures inside the tank still under close watch, emergency managers say their immediate focus remains on preventing any further release and protecting the surrounding communities from exposure.
For residents in the evacuation zone, officials continue to urge compliance with all instructions and to remain away from the area until further notice. For now, the emergency remains active, and the next phase of response will depend on whether crews can safely stabilize the tank without increasing the danger to the public or to first responders.
Evacuation and assistance information:
- Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center, 13641 Deodara Dr. — not overnight
- Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave.
- Savannah High School, 301 N. Gilbert St., Anaheim
- Orange County public information hotline: (714) 628-7085
Officials say the situation remains fluid and that updates will be provided as response teams continue working to secure the chemical tank and assess the impact of the leak.