Cause of chemical tank catastrophe that threatened to blow up parts of Orange County revealed
A chemical tank emergency in Garden Grove, California, was triggered by a failed cooling system. The incident led to the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents due to fears of a potential explosion. Investigations revealed a crack in the tank that reduced internal pressure, alleviating immediate concerns of a catastrophic event.
- ▪A failed cooling system may have caused the chemical emergency at an aerospace company in Garden Grove.
- ▪The pressurized tank contained 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable liquid.
- ▪Evacuation orders affected over 50,000 residents due to fears of a possible explosion.
- ▪Further inspections revealed a crack in the tank that lowered internal pressure, easing explosion fears.
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Metro Cause of chemical tank catastrophe that threatened to blow up parts of Orange County revealed By Daniel Farr Published May 26, 2026, 5:39 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google A failed cooling system may have triggered the dangerous chemical emergency at a Garden Grove aerospace company that led officials to evacuate roughly 50,000 residents, according to interim Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern. Authorities said a pressurized storage tank holding 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable liquid used in plastic manufacturing, began heating up after the cooling mechanism stopped working for reasons still unknown.
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