Trump Approves Federal Emergency Declaration for Orange County Chemical Leak

President Trump approved a federal emergency declaration for Orange County on Monday after California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested assistance for a chemical leak at a Garden Grove aerospace facility. The declaration allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to direct personnel, equipment and specialized resources to support the response, according to Newsom's office.

Firefighters responded Thursday to a vapor leak from a tank containing methyl methacrylate at the GKN Aerospace site. Officials warned that tank failure could release nearly 7,000 gallons of the substance or trigger a large explosion. Crews found a crack in the tank on Saturday night.

On Sunday they planned an overnight pressure test, and on Monday they reported the operation had eliminated the threat of a major explosion.

Mandatory evacuation orders affected residents in Garden Grove, Buena Park, Anaheim, Stanton, Westminster and Cypress. Red Cross shelters reached or neared capacity. Several school districts announced plans for the week. Garden Grove Unified moved to distance learning. Savanna and Westminster districts closed campuses through Friday, while Magnolia's Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy remained closed.

2024 GKN Aerospace paid $909,935 to settle a lawsuit brought by the South Coast Air Quality Management District over alleged emissions of volatile organic compounds at the same facility. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer opened an investigation into the company and asked whistleblowers to provide information about operations at the site. m. Pacific Time news conference.