Overnight Chemical Release Empties Homes Across North Toledo

Overnight Chemical Release Empties Homes Across North Toledo

Nighttime plume forces one-mile evacuation in north Toledo

An overnight chemical release in north Toledo, Ohio, forced everyone within a one-mile radius of 1050 Progress Ave. to evacuate late on Oct. 20, while residents within three miles were ordered to shelter in place. News 5 Cleveland and ABC13 reported a fog-like haze hanging over the Sterling Pipe and Tube area, with a chemical odor in the air and reduced visibility on nearby roads. Police blocked streets around the site as hazmat crews worked through the night to contain the leak.

Fire officials say release continued into Wednesday morning

The City of Toledo said Toledo Fire & Rescue issued the evacuation at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, and reported at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday that the release was ongoing with crews monitoring overnight. CBS News and ClickOnDetroit reported that around 4 a.m. Wednesday firefighters added a three-mile shelter-in-place order, telling residents to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and turn off ventilation that draws in outside air. The fire department warned residents not to judge safety by appearance, saying fog and released material cannot be told apart by looking.

Leaking trailer named as source, carrier confirms equipment involved

Early reports identified the Sterling Pipe & Tube plant on Progress Avenue as the site, while Gray Television stations including WTVG, Cleveland 19 and KFVS12 later reported the release came from MC Tank at 1266 Progress Ave. Mercer County Outlook reported that the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency first ordered evacuation within one-half mile around 10:50 p.m. and later widened it to one mile as the plume drifted, tracing the leak to a trailer in the 5300 block of Enterprise Boulevard, west of Toledo Speedway. MC Tank Transport Inc., a subsidiary of The Kenan Advantage Group, confirmed equipment associated with its operations was involved and named the chemical as glycidyl methacrylate, used to improve plastics, paints, coatings, dental resins and can coatings.

Schools close, roads and rail shut as shelters open

The city opened Shoreland Elementary School at 5650 Suder Ave. as a temporary shelter and directed evacuees to the Meijer parking lot at 1500 E. Alexis Rd., where Red Cross workers and Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority buses were stationed. CBS News and WTVG reported Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools canceled classes for Wednesday, with other schools delaying opening. Fire officials said Sterling Pipe & Tube was evacuated, Enterprise Boulevard between Stickney Avenue and Benore Road was blocked, and nearby railroads were shut down. Drivers were urged to use caution as the plume moved across roadways.

Irritant poses breathing risk, no injuries reported yet

Officials described the chemical as an irritant that can burn the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, with overexposure symptoms including headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting. The city said people with serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, dizziness or confusion should call 911, while mild eye, nose, throat or skin irritation should be referred to a medical professional. The Associated Press and the Beacon Journal reported that Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said at a morning press conference that one first responder had been hospitalized — the only known injury so far. The cause, quantity released and time for residents to return remained unknown. The Independent converted the zones to 1.6 kilometers for evacuation and 4.8 kilometers for shelter-in-place, advising even people outside those zones to stay inside if they smelled an unusual odor.