Gov. Newsom requests federal emergency declaration for Orange County chemical leak

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Governor Nuome has asked President Trump for an emergency declaration to support response efforts in Orange County as crews continue to manage a major chemical leak in Garden Grove. Tens of thousands of people remain evacuated.

[00:00:13]Firefighters were worried the leak could trigger an explosion, but they now say a crack in the industrial tank is helping relieve pressure and lower the risk that could allow officials to scale back the evacuation zone. So far, no injuries have been reported, and the cause of the leak is under investigation.