Toledo Fire & Rescue ordered emergency evacuations and shelter-in-place restrictions for residents across northern Toledo, Ohio, early Wednesday, following an overnight hazardous materials release of glycidyl methacrylate from a tank at the MC Tank Terminal on Progress Avenue.
The incident began late Tuesday evening when emergency crews responded to a hazardous materials release originating from equipment connected to MC Tank Transport operations at 1266 Progress Ave., according to municipal records. Toledo Fire & Rescue initially issued a mandatory evacuation order at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday for everyone within a one-mile radius of the site. By 4:24 a.m. Wednesday, authorities expanded precautions by ordering residents within a three-mile radius to shelter in place.
Officials Dispute Whether Tank Failure Involved Explosion
City officials provided varying accounts during Wednesday morning briefings regarding the exact nature of the initial failure at the industrial yard. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told reporters that a chemical tank explosion occurred overnight. However, the City of Toledo’s official emergency documentation described the event strictly as a hazardous material release rather than an explosion. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency noted that the chemical escaped from a 5,500-gallon tank due to an error that happened while the substance was being transferred.
Kapszukiewicz warned that the tank is emitting this chemical and it has the potential within 12 hours of the incident to be explosive, which kept hazmat teams and first responders from approaching the immediate vessel until mid-morning.
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.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, City of Toledo
Health Officials Identify Released Compound as Glycidyl Methacrylate
Environmental and public health leaders identified the released compound as glycidyl methacrylate, frequently abbreviated as GMA, an organic chemical compound bearing the molecular formula C7H10O3. The colorless liquid is used widely in manufacturing as a dual-function monomer and chemical intermediate to improve the performance of industrial coatings, paints, and polymer resins.
Toledo-Lucas County Health Department Director Karim Baroudi explained that while the airborne cloud acts primarily as an irritant at current ambient levels, the pure compound carries significant health hazards. Residents within the affected zones reported burning eyes, skin irritation, headaches, and nausea.
It’s really toxic if you touch it, if you ingest it. Now we’re trying to determine how much toxicity is in the air that the people are breathing so we can give better guidance.
Karim Baroudi, Director of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
Baroudi noted that that particular chemical long-term is a carcinogen, but there is no immediate danger regarding the acute atmospheric release. Local health agencies advised anyone experiencing minor skin or eye irritation to shower and rinse the impacted areas, while individuals suffering from severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or confusion were instructed to seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Evacuation Zones and Shelter-in-Place Orders
The mandatory evacuation zone covers a one-mile radius around the terminal at 1266 Progress Ave. Displaced families were directed to Shoreland Elementary School at 5650 Suder Ave., where a temporary reception center was established. Additional Red Cross support and TARTA buses were stationed at the Meijer parking lot off East Alexis Road to assist with transport and lodging.
For the broader three-mile shelter-in-place perimeter, authorities instructed residents to stay indoors, keep all windows and doors sealed, and turn off ventilation systems that pull in outside air. Dense fog and minimal wind across northern Toledo complicated visual assessments. Officials explicitly warned the public that you can’t tell fog from the release by looking, so please don’t rely on how the air looks.
Officials Urge Residents to Avoid Calling 911 for Inquiries
Toledo Fire & Rescue urged the public to avoid calling 911 with non-emergency inquiries regarding the hazmat situation. Residents seeking official guidance were directed to contact the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department. Tap water remains fully safe to drink because the municipal water source is uncontaminated and all treatment occurs inside pressurized water lines. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard advised commercial and recreational boaters to comply with prescribed zone restrictions on nearby waterways.
MC Tank Transport Inc., a subsidiary of The Kenan Advantage Group, issued a statement confirming that equipment associated with our operations is involved in the hazardous materials incident on Progress Avenue. Company representatives traveled to Toledo to coordinate with municipal safety authorities.
We understand the seriousness of what has happened here, 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.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, City of Toledo
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz emphasized that local emergency response teams remain fully mobilized to secure the area and mitigate any lingering environmental risks to the community.
