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Authorities in Toledo, Ohio, in the United States, ordered evacuations after a hazardous chemical release late Tuesday, while residents in surrounding areas were told to shelter indoors as emergency crews responded to the incident.
The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department ordered people within a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of 1050 Progress Ave. to evacuate at about 10:48 p.m. local time Tuesday. Officials also issued a shelter-in-place order for residents within a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) radius beyond the evacuation zone.
The release was still ongoing early Wednesday, and crews continued to monitor the site. Authorities had not identified the chemical or determined the full extent of the exposure risk.
The incident took place in North Toledo, near Progress Avenue and Enterprise Boulevard. Local media reported that workers evacuated the nearby Sterling Pipe & Tube facility as emergency crews responded to the leak.
Dense fog and haze reduced visibility across the area, while local news stations reported a plastic-like odor. Officials warned that the chemical could cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin. Other symptoms of overexposure included headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting.
The city's initial update reported no injuries or fatalities. Officials also confirmed that the incident did not involve an explosion.
The fire department warned residents not to judge potential exposure by the appearance of the air. "You can’t tell fog from the release by looking, so please don’t rely on how the air looks," the department said in an online statement.
People outside the designated zones who noticed an unusual odor were advised to remain indoors, close windows and doors, and turn off ventilation systems that drew in outside air. Anyone who believed they were experiencing a reaction was advised to contact a medical professional.
The emergency response disrupted schools and forced residents to leave homes in affected neighborhoods.
Shoreland Elementary School opened as a temporary shelter, while Red Cross personnel and Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority buses were stationed in the parking lot of a Meijer store on East Alexis Road to assist residents who needed shelter or transportation.
The evacuation zone included Raintree Village mobile home park and the Alexis Addition neighborhood, according to local media reports.
Toledo Public Schools and Washington Local Schools closed Wednesday, while some other schools delayed opening.
Authorities also closed nearby roads, including Enterprise Boulevard between Stickney Avenue and Benore Road, and suspended railroad operations in the area as emergency crews responded to the leak.
Residents within the 1-mile evacuation zone were ordered to leave, while those in the surrounding shelter-in-place zone were told to remain indoors, close windows and doors, and turn off ventilation systems that draw in outside air.
Officials also asked residents to reserve 911 calls for emergencies, warning that general inquiries could place additional pressure on dispatchers.
The city planned to share further updates through its official website, Toledo Fire & Rescue social media accounts and Lucas County Emergency Management Agency alerts. The chemical involved in the release remained unidentified, and emergency crews continued to monitor the situation.
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