A night of fear, confusion as thousands flee their homes in O.C. amid chemical crisis
Key takeaways
- It was a night of anxiety and questions as people across a wide swath of central Orange County fled their homes due to the risk of a chemical explosion at a Garden Grove aerospace firm.
- Some residents went to local evacuation shelters while others opted to stay with family and friends.
- Families evacuated from their homes milled about the lobby and parking lot of the Cypress Community Center late Friday waiting for any updates about the leaking chemical tank that sent them fleeing earlier that day.
Leticia Rinker, of Stanton, sits with her dogs Lulu, and Daisy, and two cats, (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) By Eric Licas, Hailey Branson Potts and Allen J. Schaben May 22, 2026 10:05 PM PT 6 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
It was a night of anxiety and questions as people across a wide swath of central Orange County fled their homes due to the risk of a chemical explosion at a Garden Grove aerospace firm.
Some residents went to local evacuation shelters while others opted to stay with family and friends. Among the many questions surrounding the incident, two felt the most urgent on Friday night: How long will the evacuation last? And how safe is their community?