Efforts to stop California chemical leak in Orange County on new trajectory, officials say
More than 50,000 people in California remain evacuated due to an Orange County chemical leak that prompted an emergency proclamation from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Updated on: May 24, 2026 / 5:22 PM EDT / CBS LA
Efforts to stop a California industrial disaster were set on a potentially promising new path on Sunday, officials said, revealing that crews discovered a possible pressure-relieving crack in the tank behind a toxic chemical leak in Orange County, where 50,000 people remain evacuated.
In a post to X , Orange County Fire Authority Interim Chief TJ McGovern said the discovery still needs validating, but if confirmed, it could alter the strategy as crews search for a solution to the crisis.
"With this new information, it could change our trajectory and our strategy to this event," he said. "Last night was a successful operation for this emerging incident."
The crisis, entering its fourth day on Sunday, remained without a clear solution as a tank estimated to contain 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate continued to leak at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove.
After he proclaimed a state of emergency in Orange County on Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he requested that President Trump issue an Emergency Declaration. The action would activate FEMA to direct federal assistance at the scene and allow federal funding to flow in.