Chemical spill in Toledo prompts limited evacuation

A chemical spill in Toledo, Ohio, prompted an evacuation order for parts of the city, and a shelter-in-place order for more.

On Tuesday, Toledo Fire and Rescue ordered everyone within a one-mile radius of an MC Tank Terminal at 1266 Progress Ave. to evacuate over a “hazardous materials release,” a chemical identified by MC Tank as glycidyl methacrylate, which is used in making some plastics, paints, and coatings. On Wednesday morning, the department ordered everyone within a three-mile radius to shelter in place.

The city of Toledo said the chemical can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. Symptoms of overexposure include headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting.

It clarified that no explosion occurred, and no casualties were reported. Residents within the evacuation radius were told to go to a local elementary school or parking lot with Red Cross personnel on standby to help.

The extent of the release was complicated by a dense fog, making it difficult to distinguish between what was part of the chemical release and what was standard fog.

“You can’t tell fog from the release by looking, so please don’t rely on how the air looks,” the fire department said in a news release. “If you are outside the evacuation or shelter-in-place zones and smell an unusual odor, please stay indoors, close windows and doors and turn off ventilation that draws in outside air.”

It’s unclear how many of Toledo’s 265,000 residents were told to evacuate. The impact zone doesn’t reach downtown but covers a significant portion of the city’s northern section. The Raintree Village mobile home park and the Alexis Addition neighborhood were located within the evacuation zone.

Several schools were closed over the leak on Wednesday, while others delayed opening.

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In a news release, MC Tank Transport Inc. said it was working closely with emergency authorities and had “mobilized additional specialized emergency response resources to assist.”

“We understand the serious disruption this incident has caused to nearby residents and businesses, particularly those required to evacuate their homes,” the company added. “We are committed to assisting those affected.”

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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]