thousands return – Officials in Orange County say the vast majority of the roughly 50,000 people evacuated from a damaged chemical tank can safely return, while about 16,000 remain under evacuation orders near the aerospace facility in Garden Grove. Crews continued working throu
For many residents, the decision to leave their homes has already been long and exhausting. On Monday, Orange County officials told them that part of the ordeal is ending: the vast majority of the roughly 50,000 people evacuated because of a damaged chemical tank could begin coming back.
Orange County health officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong delivered the message directly to people who were outside the newly defined danger area. “I want to reassure everyone who is outside of the new evacuation zone that when you go home. you can feel safe. ” she said. “There was no contamination, there were no fumes, there were no vapors that came from this incident. There was no leak.”.
She said residents in areas where evacuations were lifted should feel comfortable returning even if they are near the boundary. “You should feel comfortable going home, even if you’re across the street from that new zone line,” she said.
Monday marked a shift after a five-day crisis eased, with officials concluding the damage would not cause a massive explosion. Still, they insisted the risk in the immediate area around the aerospace facility in Garden Grove is not over. About 16,000 people remain under evacuation as crews continue their work.
Authorities said they would not revisit their decision to keep the evacuation orders in place until Tuesday morning. That timing left many evacuees hoping to get back Monday evening. Instead, workers continued through the night on the tank, with ongoing monitoring designed to prevent a worst-case scenario.
Overnight, crews planned to check tank temperatures every 30 minutes, Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey said. He described the trend as encouraging. “trending in the right way,” Covey said.
As the temperatures stabilize, officials said the risk of a catastrophic tank failure — and the possibility of a hazmat spill or fire — goes down. “Once we rule that out is when we can get the residents back in,” Covey said.
Officials also provided specific numbers to show where the tank stood. Hazmat Branch Division Chief Nick Freeman said the tank’s current temperature is around 50 degrees. down from a peak of 100 degrees. Workers are still watching for any environmental threat while the tank is cooled, including runoff water. Officials said they are monitoring runoff water to make sure no contaminated water escapes.
Cooling efforts over the last five days have been extensive, with one official saying they used millions of gallons of water to cool the tank.
For the 16,000 residents still inside the evacuation perimeter, officials said the danger is concentrated and defined. The new evacuation zone consists of Orangewood Avenue to the north, Dale Street to the east, Knott Street to the west, and Garden Grove Boulevard to the south.
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff urged residents not to test the limits of that boundary. “Nothing is worth risking. endangering your lives by trying to go back to your home while there is an evacuation order still in effect. Don’t put your lives at risk. and don’t put the lives of first responders at risk by getting in their way. ” Schiff said.
The immediate picture. then. is mixed: families outside the new zone are being told they can return safely. while work continues just beyond the lines that keep others waiting. As officials keep temperatures trending downward and monitor the possibility of any spill or leak. the next decision point is set for Tuesday morning — the moment they said they will reassess whether residents can come home.
Orange County Garden Grove chemical tank evacuation Hazmat Orange County Fire Authority Adam Schiff Regina Chinsio-Kwong Nick Freeman Craig Covey