Newsom Declares Emergency in Orange County Over Fears of Chemical Tank Explosion

Water is sprayed on a tank as a chemical incident involving a failing tank of flammable liquid called methyl methacrylate has forced an evacuation in the surrounding area in Garden Grove, Calif., on May, 22, 2026. Caroline Brehman/Reuters

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County on May 23 because a chemical storage tank is at risk of exploding or spilling thousands of gallons of toxic material.

“The safety of Orange County residents is the top priority. We are mobilizing every state resource available to support local responders and make sure the community has what they need to stay safe,” Newsom said.