Toledo chemical leak causes evacuations after tank explosion

FOX 2 - An active hazmat scene in Toledo has caused a one-mile evacuation for residents due to a chemical release early Wednesday morning.

Toledo chemical leak

The backstory:

Toledo Fire and Rescue are at the scene of a hazardous materials release at MC Tank Terminal on Progress Ave near Enterprise Blvd in North Toledo. 

Officials said at 9:30 p.m. last night a chemical tank exploded containing glycidyl methacrylate and that one person was injured.

The injured sheriff's deputy transported himself to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.

The cause is still under investigation. 

‘Ongoing concern’ for another explosion

Meanwhile:

Kapszukiewicz said that emergency responders and hazmat teams are not approaching the tank due to the volatility of the situation.  

"There is still concern that the tank is emitting this chemical and it has the potential within 12 hours of this incident to be explosive," he said Wednesday morning. "We are still in the top period of time where there is at least potential that the tank could explode."

Battalion Chief Michael Posadny said that a drone would be flown overhead to re-access whether it was safe to address the scene. 

What is glycidyl methacrylate?

Dig deeper:

Glycidyl methacrylate is an industrial toxic chemical. It is abbreviated as GMA, and is described as an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C7H10O3, according to PubChem, from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. 

The chemical is used for construction and building materials like flooring, tile, sinks, bathtubs, mirrors, wall materials/drywall, wall-to-wall carpets, insulation, playground surfaces and includes semi-permanent fixtures such as faucets and light fixtures, it said.

Why you should care:

Exposure symptoms include labored breathing and coughing if inhaled, redness and skin burns for exposure and eye redness, pain and burns, according to PubChem. 

Serious symptoms include difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and confusion. Anyone experiencing this should go to the ER or call 911.

The mayor said that there are levels of exposure to the chemical that are "unpleasant, but not necessarily dangerous to human health."

"That particular chemical long-term is a carcinogen, but there is no immediate danger as far as the release that happened late last night," said a health official. "The most important thing for those sheltering in place, close the windows. For people driving through the shelter-in-place area, circulate the air in your car, don't bring outside air into your car."

Evacuation ordered

Local perspective:

Everyone living within a mile of the location at 1266 Progress Ave is under evacuation orders. Officials have safe zones for evacuees at Meijer on Alexis Road and at Shoreland Elementary where the Red Cross is assisting.

Those who live outside of the evacuation zone, or anyone within three miles, should shelter in place as a precaution, officials say.

Kapszukiewicz said in a press conference that about 983 residents were evacuated within that mile radius, which included some living in southeast Michigan. 

Those who live in the three-mile radius are ordered to stay inside, and not go outside or open windows. 

What they're saying:

"We understand the seriousness of what has happened here," the mayor said. "That is why we took the actions that we did. That is why we are going to continue to monitor it and communicate with the public throughout the day."

"We ask everyone to remain calm, follow the directions of emergency personnel, and avoid the affected area to allow first responders to safely manage the incident," said a statement on the Toledo Fire and Rescue page.

The evacuation zone began as a half-mile but was doubled to a mile by the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency, because the chemical release is ongoing.  

Producer note: Earlier reports from Toledo Fire, city and county information said the incident took place at 1050 Progress Avenue. The location has been updated by officials – and in this story – as originating from the MC Tank Terminal, 1266 Progress Avenue.

Stay with FOX 2 for more information as it becomes available. 

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