Thousands of Orange County residents were under evacuation orders on the morning of Friday, May 22, 2026 after a storage tank at an aerospace facility leaked, sending toxic fumes into the air.

The incident was first reported at around 3:30pm on Thursday. Reportedly, the 34,000-gallon storage tank containing methyl methacrylate overheated and started venting vapors into the air at the aerospace facility located at 12122 Western Ave. The areas north of Garden Grove Boulevard, east of Monarch Street, south of Orangewood Avenue, and west of Beach Boulevard were evacuated. These initial evacuation orders were lifted at around 8:40pm after crews cooled the tank and reduced vapor production.

These evacuation orders were reissued on Friday, at around 6:30am because of “changing conditions.” Reportedly, hazmat crews continued their mitigation efforts at the aerospace facility.

According to reports, the facility remained closed and there was heavy police presence. Access to surrounding areas remains restricted.

As briefly mentioned above, the chemical in question is methyl methacrylate, which is a volatile and flammable liquid that is often used in the production of acrylic plastics. Exposure to the chemical can result in both acute and chronic effects.

If you or a member of your family suffered harm after being exposed to methyl methacrylate due to the Garden Grove chemical leak, do not hesitate to seek legal help as soon as possible. You could have the right to file a lawsuit and even receive compensation. For more information about the legal options available to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to the team here at our law firm as soon as possible.

Our team here at the Downtown L.A. Law Group has decades of experience and is more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice.

Possible Harm Related to Methyl Methacrylate Exposure

Exposure to the chemical can cause both acute (short-term) harm and chronic (long-term) harm.

The short-term harm that may occur could include the following:

• Respiratory irritation, such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. Exposure to high levels of the chemical may lead to pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs.

• Stinging and watery eyes

• Scratchy nose or throat

• Dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating

Long-term harm could include the following:

• Severe dermatitis, including allergic rashes, which can result in permanent damage to the nails or nail loss

• Neurological harm, including weakness, numbness, and “pins and needles” sensation in hands/feet

• Organ damage, specifically to the kidneys, lungs, and liver

No matter the specific harm that you or a member of your family suffered as a result of the incident, it is important that you explore the legal options available to you as you may have the right to file a claim.

Your Legal Options

Can I file a claim? Do I have the right to file a claim if my family and I are harmed due to exposure to methyl methacrylate? Yes, you could have the right to file a claim. Based on the details surrounding the situation, you could have the right to file a claim against the business that owns and operates the aerospace facility in which the chemical leak occurred. You may even be eligible to participate in a class action claim. For more information about the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to our firm as soon as possible.

Can I Recover Compensation?
Depending on the type of claim that you pursue, you could be eligible to recover compensation. Some of the categories of compensation available for recovery could include the following:

• Medical expenses

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering

• Punitive damages

• Legal expenses

• And more

Here at our law firm, our team is fully committed to helping victims and their family recover the maximum payout available for their claims. Whether our team has to negotiate a settlement or take your claim to trial to reach a fair verdict, you can trust that our team is ready to help you.

If you have found yourself asking any questions about the possible value of your claim or the time that it could take to reach a settlement, contact our firm today.