24/7 LiveLos AngelesOrange CountyInland EmpireVentura CountyCalifornia
Live

Evacuation zone reduced with threat of massive explosion eliminated at Orange County chemical tank

ByBianca Buono, Niku Kazori , Mónica De Anda, Amy Powell, Tim Pulliam, and Liz Nagy KABC logo
Last updated: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 7:17PM GMT
Danger of major tank explosion eliminated, OC evacuations reduced

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- There is no longer a threat of a catastrophic explosion at a tank filled with a toxic chemical at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, officials said Monday.

The "crisis situation" forced 50,000 people out of their homes in Orange County for several days. In an update on Monday evening, the evacuation zone was reduced, now impacting 16,000 residents.

Crews worked overnight on a risky mission to confirm if the pressure in the tank was releasing after a crack was discovered. Firefighters removed weather insulation from the outside of the tank to help the water be more efficient at cooling the temperature down.

The Orange County Fire Authority said the threat of a BLEVE, which stands for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, at the site "is now off the table." Crews were able to confirm that the temperature of the tank is decreasing.

Officials said the crisis is not averted, however, there is still a chance of a significantly smaller explosion, fire or leak.

Residents are being asked to continue to avoid the reduced evacuation zone. Any areas outside of the evacuation zone "are currently considered completely safe, and day-to-day activities can continue as normal."

So far, no injuries have been reported.

It was unclear what initially caused the material in the tank to overheat.

Este blog se ofrece en Español, aquí.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
KABC logo
May 26, 2026, 3:02 AM

Map shows reduced evacuations impacting 16,000 Orange County residents

The evacuation zone for a chemical tank crisis unfolding in Garden Grove for the past several days has been reduced.

The new zone impacts 16,000 residents. The new map barriers include Orangewood Avenue to the north, Dale Street to the east, Knott Street to the west and Garden Grove Boulevard to the south.

Evacuation shelters will remain open for the residents who live within the reduced evacuation zone.

Previously, 50,000 Orange County residents were within the evacuation zone.

KABC logo
May 25, 2026, 10:01 PM GMT

Evacuation zones under review, residents urged not to return yet

Fire and law enforcement agencies are re-evaluating evacuation zones following the elimination of a potential catastrophic explosion threat at the Garden Grove chemical tank, officials said.

Despite the development, officials urged the public not to re-enter affected areas in the current evacuation zones.

Officials said more information will be provided during a press conference scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Incident Command Post in Los Alamitos.

Although the threat of a massive catastrophic explosion was eliminated, the crisis is not averted and there is still a chance of a significantly smaller explosion or leak.

May 25, 2026, 8:59 PM GMT

GKN Aerospace says it's working with officials to mitigate risk of leak

GKN Aerospace, the company that owns and operates the facility with toxic chemical tank in crisis, released a statement Monday saying it is working with officials to mitigate a risk of a leak.

On Sunday, a team from GKN worked with OCFA to removed external insulation from the tank in order to help cooldown the chemicals inside.

Read the full GKN statement below:

"During the evening of May 24, technical specialists working for the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove conducted a joint operation with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) to assess the storage tank more closely. The team safely and successfully removed external insulation material from the tank in order to help advance efforts to cool its contents. This operation followed several days of careful monitoring and work to stabilize the tank, in conjunction with the dedicated team of experts on-site.

"We are continuing to work around the clock with the OCFA, the EPA and all relevant federal, state and local agencies to mitigate the ongoing risk of a leak. We remain extremely thankful for their dedication and hard work.

"We apologize for the ongoing disruption this incident is causing and our priority remains its safe resolution, so that residents can return to their homes as quickly as possible. Please continue to follow all instructions issued by local authorities and emergency personnel at this time."

KABC logo
May 25, 2026, 6:15 PM GMT

Trump has signed federal emergency declaration, officials say

President Trump has signed a federal emergency declaration for the Garden Grove district, according to Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Congressman Derek Tran.

President Trump has signed a federal emergency declaration for the Garden Grove district, according to Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Congressman Derek Tran.
May 25, 2026, 5:27 PM GMT

'Crisis is not averted,' smaller explosion or leak still possible, officials say

Crisis at the Garden Grove chemical tank is not over, officials clarified Monday morning.

"Crisis is not averted," OCFA Interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern said, adding the most catastrophic explosion threat has been eliminated due to a crack in the tank relieving pressure.

McGovern said if an explosion or a leak were to occur, it would be significantly smaller than the initial worst-case scenario.

"We still have potential for an explosion that it's not as bad as a BLEVE, but it's still a threat," McGovern said. "There was still a threat out there, and we need the public to keep to those evacuation zones until we deem it safe for them to come back."

Evacuations remain in place.

Watch Live
ON NOW