Residents of North Toledo, Ohio, were ordered on Tuesday night to evacuate their homes and businesses, and others were told to shelter in place, after a chemical tank at a trucking terminal released material into the air.1,4,6
Toledo Fire and Rescue ordered everyone within a 1-mile radius of 1050 Progress Ave. to evacuate at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday, and issued a shelter-in-place order for everyone within a 3-mile radius at 4:24 a.m. Wednesday. Those under the shelter-in-place order were asked to stay indoors, close windows and doors, turn off ventilation that draws in outside air, and keep pets inside.1
The city of about 265,000 people said more than 900 people live within the evacuation zone, and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said it was believed all of them had left by Wednesday morning. Residents who needed a place to go were directed to Shoreland Elementary School, which is serving as temporary shelter, and to the Meijer parking lot off East Alexis, where Red Cross and TARTA buses were stationed to provide shelter as needed. Toledo public schools were closed on Wednesday.1,6
The Toledo terminal involved belongs to MC Tank Transport, an Arkansas-based company that said the tank contained glycidyl methacrylate. The company described the substance as “an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better.” Kapszukiewicz said the chemical is a liquid inside the tank but becomes a gas when released, and that the tank can hold 5,500 gallons of it.6
The timing and nature of the incident were described differently. ABC News reported that a tank exploded and that a sheriff’s deputy responding to the blast around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday was injured and was able to drive himself to the hospital, according to the mayor, who spoke at a news conference Wednesday morning. CBS News described a plume of smoke full of unknown chemicals erupting from the MC Tank terminal and reported that no injuries had been reported. Kapszukiewicz said officials did not know what caused the explosion.1,6
Kapszukiewicz warned that the danger had not passed. “There is still concern that the tank is emitting this chemical and it has the potential within 12 hours of the incident to be explosive,” the mayor said. First responders, hazmat and safety teams were not approaching the tank because of the risk of more explosions, and he said they would reassess conditions later Wednesday morning.6
The city’s fire department said people who come into contact with glycidyl methacrylate may feel as if their eyes, nose, mouth and skin are burning, and that overexposure can lead to headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting. Karim Baroudi, director of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, said at the news conference, “It’s really toxic if you touch it, if you ingest it.” He said health officials were working to determine how much of the chemical was in the air residents were breathing “so we can give better guidance.”6
Baroudi advised residents to close their windows, and said that people who “feel irritation in the eyes, heavily breathing, just take a shower for now.” The fire department said anyone who experiences symptoms should contact a medical professional.6
Dense fog early Wednesday reduced visibility in the city and delayed efforts to use drones to monitor the site. Kapszukiewicz told residents outside the evacuation zone that the fog was unrelated to the chemical incident. The National Weather Service said the fog was expected to lift by mid-morning.6
MC Tank Transport said in a statement that the company is working with the fire department and other emergency authorities. “Our immediate and overriding concern is the safety of area residents, emergency responders and our employees,” the company said. Kapszukiewicz said company representatives were on their way to Toledo.6
It was not immediately clear when residents would be allowed to return to the evacuation zone, or when the shelter-in-place order would be lifted. Officials said they would provide updates as conditions were reassessed.1,6
