Quick look: Some local schools were evacuated and others saw closures or operational disruptions Friday as emergency crews responded to an industrial chemical leak in Garden Grove. For the latest information, be sure to follow the Orange County Fire Authority on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Updated at 4:50 p.m. on May 22, 2026
Officials warn unstable chemical tank likely to fail as evacuations urged in Garden Grove
Orange County fire officials reiterated Friday afternoon that crews are preparing for the likely failure of a compromised tank containing methyl methacrylate as evacuation orders and school disruptions continued across parts of northwestern Orange County.
During a news conference at 2 p.m., Orange County Fire Division Chief Craig Covey said efforts to stabilize the compromised tank were unsuccessful after damaged valves prevented crews from safely accessing the material inside.
Officials said the tank at the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue in Garden Grove could either rupture and spill thousands of gallons of chemicals or trigger what responders described as a potential boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, or BLEVE.
“That was what we were handed — a leaking tank or a tank that blows up,” Covey said. “That’s why we extended the evacuation today in an overabundance of caution. This is highly voluble, it’s highly toxic and it’s highly flammable.”
Authorities emphasized that there is currently no active gas leak or chemical plume in the area, but evacuation orders remain in place out of concern about what could happen if the tank fails.
Garden Grove police officials estimated roughly 40,000 people are affected by the evacuation zone, which includes portions of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, Buena Park and Westminster. Multiple Orange County school districts in the area reported closures, campus evacuations, relocations and operational disruptions Friday as emergency crews continued containment efforts.
County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean said OCDE has been in contact with affected school districts and will continue to provide support as needed.
“School communities across Orange County have had to make difficult and fast-moving decisions today in response to this incident,” Bean said. “We’re grateful for the steady leadership of district teams, first responders and public safety agencies working to protect students, families and staff throughout this challenging and dynamic situation.”
At Friday’s news conference, County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said short-term exposure to methyl methacrylate vapor can cause irritation to the lungs and nasal passages, along with nausea and dizziness, while higher exposure levels could lead to severe respiratory distress and hospitalization. She also noted officials have limited information about incidents of this scale involving the chemical.
Officials urged residents to follow evacuation orders and continue monitoring updates from emergency agencies. For the latest official information, follow the Orange County Fire Authority on X.
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Updated at 3:15 p.m. on May 22, 2026
Evacuation zone expands as chemical leak response continues in Garden Grove
Orange County fire and law enforcement officials said Friday that evacuation orders around the industrial chemical leak in Garden Grove have been expanded after crews determined a compromised tank could no longer be safely stabilized.
In a video update posted to social media, Orange County Fire Authority officials warned that a compromised tank containing hazardous chemicals remained unstable and at risk of entering what officials described as a “thermal runaway” event.
“There are literally two options left remaining,” Orange County Fire Division Chief Craig Covey said during the briefing. “One, the tank fails and spills a total of about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area. Or two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks that are around them, that have fuel, or the chemicals in them, as well.”
Officials emphasized that there is currently no active gas leak or chemical plume in the area, but said expanded evacuation orders were issued as a precaution based on the evolving risk.
Thousands of residents were evacuated as emergency crews continued containment efforts. Meanwhile, nearby districts adjusted operations throughout the day, initiating campus evacuations, parent pickup notifications and student relocations to alternate school sites.
- The Garden Grove Unified School District closed multiple campuses and facilities, including Barker, Bryant, Carver, Enders, Garden Park, Lawrence, Wakeham and Patton elementary schools; Bell and Alamitos intermediate schools; Pacifica and Rancho Alamitos high schools; Skylark Preschool; the district’s Maintenance and Operations Facility; and the Lampson Bus Yard.
- In the Magnolia School District, students from Esther L. Walter School were relocated to Dr. Jonas E. Salk School, while students from Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy were being moved to Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary School.
- Savanna School District officials said students from Hansen Elementary School were initially split between Holder School and Twila Reid Elementary School. All students were later relocated to a site in the city of Buena Park.
- Westminster School District officials notified families to pick up students, with Stacy Middle School and Warner Middle School designated as backup sites for evacuated campuses.
- Cypress School District officials said parents at Frank Vessels Elementary School and Juliet Morris Elementary School were being given the option to pick up their students, though pickups were not mandatory.
- Los Alamitos Unified School District officials said no evacuations were in place. Elementary campuses were already closed for a non-student day, while schools serving grades 6 through 12 remained open.
The leak reportedly originated Thursday at the GKN Aerospace facility on Western Avenue in Garden Grove, where officials said a tank containing methyl methacrylate, or MMA, became compromised during industrial operations.
Authorities urged residents to follow evacuation orders and avoid the area while hazardous materials crews continue working with the manufacturing company and third-party contractors to stabilize the situation.
Garden Grove police officials said evacuation boundaries now extend south to Trask Avenue, north to Ball Road, west to Valley View Street and east to Dale Street. Officials also said Beach Boulevard remained closed between Garden Grove Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue.
Emergency shelter and evacuation assistance centers have been established in Garden Grove and Cypress for displaced residents.
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Updated at 10:10 a.m. on May 22, 2026
Outdoor activities canceled at schools near evacuation zone as chemical leak response continues
Garden Grove Unified School District officials said campuses outside the evacuation zone have been deemed safe, but outdoor activities at schools adjacent to the area were canceled Friday “out of an abundance of caution” as emergency crews continued monitoring the industrial chemical leak in Garden Grove.
In a social media post, district officials also announced support services for families affected by evacuation orders, including a reunification center at the Community Recreation Center, 13641 Deodara Drive in Garden Grove, across from Bolsa Grande High School. A temporary shelter has also been established at Stanton City Hall, 7800 Katella Ave. in Stanton.
Meal distribution for impacted families will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Hare High School, 12012 Magnolia St. in Garden Grove.
The district reaffirmed that several campuses and facilities remain temporarily closed — see below for that list — as emergency responders continue containment efforts related to the chemical release near Chapman and Western avenues.
District officials said they will continue coordinating with emergency response agencies and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Updated at 8:57 a.m. on May 22, 2026
Several Garden Grove Unified campuses closed following chemical leak response
Several Garden Grove Unified School District campuses closed Friday as emergency crews continued containment efforts related to an industrial chemical leak in Garden Grove.
In a message to families Friday morning, district officials said the closures were ordered “at the direction of law enforcement and emergency response officials” following the incident near Chapman and Western avenues.
The following campuses and facilities were closed until further notice:
- Barker Elementary School
- Bryant Elementary School
- Carver Elementary School
- Enders Elementary School
- Garden Park Elementary School
- Lawrence Elementary School
- Wakeham Elementary School
- Patton Elementary School
- Bell Intermediate School
- Alamitos Intermediate School
- Pacifica High School
- Rancho Alamitos High School
- Skylark Preschool
- Maintenance and Operations Facility
- Lampson Bus Yard
According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the incident involved a vapor release from a tank containing methyl methacrylate, an industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing, at an aerospace facility on Western Avenue.
Emergency responders evacuated portions of the surrounding area Thursday evening while crews worked to stabilize the situation. Rancho Alamitos High School briefly served as an incident command and reunification center during the response effort.
District officials said they will continue coordinating with local authorities and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Separately, OCDE ACCESS officials announced Friday morning that Magnolia, Southwest Anaheim and Anaheim West school sites would also be closed until further notice due to ongoing containment efforts in the area. Staff assigned to those campuses were directed to report to the Argosy education center in Orange.
For updates and additional information, families are encouraged to refer to communications from Garden Grove Unified School District and local emergency response agencies.