A flammable chemical escaping from a tank in Toledo, Ohio, sent a plume high into the air, prompting overnight evacuations and sending more than two dozen people to local hospitals for treatment.
Authorities evacuated hundreds of residents within a one-mile radius of the tank. A shelter-in-place order extended to three miles as the chemical release mixed with thick fog, adding to residents’ alarm.
A Chemical Transfer Error Behind the Release
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said the chemical was escaping from a 5,500-gallon tank after an error during a material transfer. Toledo’s mayor described the substance as an industrial coating product.
Emergency dispatch audio described a large cloud of gas escaping under high pressure. The release triggered protective orders across nearby neighborhoods:
- Within one mile: Officials evacuated hundreds of residents overnight.
- Out to three miles: A shelter-in-place order covered a broader area.
Residents Describe Rapidly Deteriorating Conditions
Resident John Rednbo, who lived within the three-mile shelter-in-place area, described a dramatic change outside his home. His surroundings were initially clear. About half an hour later, he could no longer see the end of his driveway.
Even indoors, with every window and door shut, he said he could smell and taste the chemical. He described breathing the air as deeply bothersome.
Drivers also reported severe visibility problems on streets and through neighborhoods. One resident said headlights offered little help in the dense haze, making it difficult to see even immediately ahead.
Thick Fog Complicates Fears About Exposure
The chemical release coincided with thick fog in the area. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz acknowledged residents’ concerns, noting that people saw the fog and feared it was the chemical plume.
That overlap made the scene especially unsettling: poor visibility spread through neighborhoods while a hazardous release was underway nearby. The fog’s appearance alone, however, did not establish the extent of chemical exposure.
What Officials Said About Health Risks
The city of Toledo said the chemical could irritate the eyes and lungs and described it as a long-term carcinogen. At the same time, the city said it should not be considered a serious risk at the level of exposure involved in this incident.
That assessment distinguished the substance’s longer-term hazard from the exposure level officials were describing. More than two dozen people nevertheless sought treatment at local hospitals amid the release.
Source credit: This article is based on reporting by Sam Brock for NBC News. NBC News is the original source of the reporting and the accompanying video, “Hundreds evacuated due to hazmat leak.”
Be the first to comment