Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on May 24, 2026. Ethan Swope/AP Photo
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on May 24 that he submitted a request to the federal government to issue a federal emergency declaration to support response efforts to a compromised chemical tank that officials warned may explode. The incident has led to evacuations in Orange County.
“California doesn’t wait for disaster to unfold; we act early to protect lives and communities. Working together with our local and federal partners, we’re strengthening our ability to respond quickly and effectively in Garden Grove and across the surrounding communities and ensuring that first responders have the resources they need to keep people safe,” Newsom said in a statement on Sunday evening.