Toledo chemical tank release forces evacuations and shelter-in-place orders

A chemical tank at a company in north Toledo, Ohio, released a chemical into the air on Tuesday night, and the mayor warned on Wednesday that it might still be explosive. The City of Toledo ordered everyone within a 1-mile radius of 1266 Progress Ave. to evacuate and everyone within 3 miles to shelter in place. Residents under the shelter order were asked to stay indoors, close windows and doors and turn off ventilation that draws in outside air. [ 3 , 5 , 8 ]

CBS News reported that the evacuation orders were issued at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday and the shelter-in-place orders at 4:24 a.m. Wednesday. NBC News reported that an order covering a half-mile, about 300 people, was later expanded to 1 mile, raising the number to almost 1,000. UPI reported more than 900 evacuated residents. The Seattle Times, citing AP, reported that more than 50,000 people were advised to stay indoors. Some schools were closed Wednesday and others delayed opening. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 11 ]

MC Tank Transport said the tank contained glycidyl methacrylate, which it described as an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the chemical is liquid inside the tank but becomes a gas when released. He said there was concern the tank was still emitting it and that it could be explosive within 12 hours of the incident, so first responders, hazmat and safety teams were not approaching it. The tank can hold 5,500 gallons in liquid form, he said. [ 5 , 8 , 9 ]

A Lucas County sheriff's deputy who responded to the incident, around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, felt unwell and drove himself to a hospital. NBC News reported that officials believe the injury is not serious. Some residents felt irritation in their eyes and throats and sought treatment, according to The Seattle Times citing AP. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 9 ]

The city fire department said contact with the chemical can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, and overexposure can lead to headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting. Karim Baroudi, director of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, said it is very toxic if touched or ingested and that officials were trying to determine how much of it was in the air. He advised residents to close their windows and to take a shower if they felt irritation in the eyes or heavy breathing. [ 8 , 9 ]

Officials said they do not know what caused the explosion. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said, without elaborating, that the leak happened because of an error during a material transfer. The Seattle Times, citing AP, reported that city leaders were letting the chemical vent rather than trying to stop the leak, saying that would be more dangerous, and that the mayor said there was no reason to panic. [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 ]