Officials confirm leak stopped; residents get step-by-step guidance for returning
TOLEDO — City and county emergency officials confirmed Thursday evening that a storage tank at the MC Tank Terminal, 1266 Progress Avenue, has stopped releasing material after a hazardous chemical incident earlier this week. The release involved glycidyl methacrylate, an irritant the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department says can burn the eyes, nose, mouth and skin.
Hazmat crews were able to approach and inspect the tank Thursday after the outflow ceased, and officials said they will hand the site over to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cleanup once a site safety plan is submitted. The EPA continues to monitor conditions around the perimeter of the active response area.
City updates show the scale and adjustment of emergency orders over the course of two days, reflecting ongoing monitoring and changing assessments of risk as responders gathered more information.
- Oct. 20, 10:48 p.m. — Toledo Fire & Rescue ordered everyone within a 1-mile radius of 1266 Progress Ave to evacuate after a hazardous materials release.
- Oct. 21, 4:24 a.m. — The evacuation area was expanded to a 3-mile radius and residents within that zone were ordered to shelter in place.
- Oct. 21, 5:00 p.m. — The evacuation radius was reduced to 1/2 mile and the shelter-in-place order was lifted.
- Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. — Officials further reduced the evacuation zone to a 1/4 mile radius around 1266 Progress Ave.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chemical | Glycidyl methacrylate (irritant) |
| Location | MC Tank Terminal, 1266 Progress Ave |
| Current evacuation radius | 1/4 mile (as of Oct. 22) |
| Agency overseeing cleanup | U.S. EPA (after site safety plan) |
"As soon as we receive a site safety plan, we will turn the scene over to the US EPA to work on clean up,"
Officials said crews will continue to monitor the site overnight into Friday. The Toledo Fire & Rescue hazardous materials team is coordinating with federal, state and local partners to evaluate mitigation and next steps.
City and public-health guidance for residents focuses on safe return and avoiding contamination. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department has posted instructions for people returning to homes inside the previously affected area, and the Health Department is preparing guidance for food-service operations. The Ohio State University Extension office has advised that residents and businesses discard any produce or crops that were left outside within the 3-mile shelter-in-place zone.
The city also plans targeted cleaning of public play spaces inside the 3-mile zone according to health department recommendations.
Earlier reports from local media captured the incident’s immediate human impact: several residents reported irritation of the eyes and throat and sought medical attention, and one Lucas County sheriff’s deputy who responded later drove himself to a hospital after feeling unwell.
Local and statewide implications
Beyond immediate response and cleanup, the incident raises questions about storage and transport of industrial chemicals in urbanized parts of northwest Ohio. The MC Tank Terminal sits within a city neighborhood, so changes in emergency planning, buffer zones, and inspection protocols could follow depending on outcomes of the EPA review and any subsequent state-level enforcement actions.
For now, officials urge residents to follow the city’s web updates and the EPA’s response page for the latest information. The city page says it will update the public as new information becomes available.
Residents with questions about returning home or about safety measures should consult the Toledo municipal site and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department for detailed instructions and resources.
Crews will continue monitoring and assessing the site, and Toledo officials reiterated their commitment to coordinate with federal and state partners as cleanup planning moves forward.
