Thousands of residents in Orange County returned home Monday following the chemical incident in Garden Grove, but with the threat of a chemical spill still possible, some have said they remain feeling uneasy.

The evacuation order was lifted on Monday for about two-thirds of the residents who were impacted by the notice late last week, allowing about 34,000 people to return home. With that, public health and emergency officials have assured residents who were given clearance to go home that they are safe.

“I want to assure everyone who is outside of the new evacuation zone that when you go home, you can feel safe,” Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County Public Health Officer, said in a press conference on Monday. “There was no contamination, there were no fumes, there were no vapors that came from this incident, there was no leak.”

A compromised storage tank carrying methyl methacrylate, a flammable liquid with a strong, fruity odor, forced officials to issue the evacuation order on Thursday. Officials said those who were out of the updated evacuation zone were in no danger of being impacted by the ongoing crisis response to the incident.

 “You should feel comfortable going home, even if you’re across the street from that new zone line,” Chinsio-Kwong said, adding that she and other health experts and scientists tracked data and monitored the air so officials could make an educated decision to reduce the evacuation zone.

Despite the assurance from experts, some residents have expressed concern for their health.

Fire authorities say the threat of a devastating explosion has been eliminated at a troubled chemical tank in Garden Grove. Brittany Hope reports for the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on May 26, 2026.

“They say it’s safe to be here, but I’m still worried there still could be a chemical leakage because I think they said something about the explosion being done,” said Fonzie Mercado, who lives in Garden Grove. “It’s just the fact that the chemicals could sink into the air.”

Another neighboring resident said he feels safe being back home with the word of local officials.

“If it were leaking, probably that’s the only concern,” Carlos Pena said. “But if it didn’t, well, I don’t think we’re at risk.”

Local health leaders are continuing to monitor the air and respond to areas that may still be vulnerable to the incident.