Near-Zero Visibility in Toledo as Crews Respond to Hazmat Release

A dangerous situation is unfolding in Toledo, Ohio, as a hazardous chemical release has prompted evacuations and shelter-in-place orders. The dense fog blanketing the city in the northern part of the Buckeye State has complicated the response. Read on for the details of this crisis.

Poor Weather Conditions Exacerbate Chemical Leak in Toledo

Visibility was near zero in Toledo on Wednesday morning as hazmat crews raced to secure an area under the threat of a chemical leak. The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department first ordered the mandatory evacuation of an area within a one-mile radius near the leak site at about 10:48 pm on Tuesday. Local officials expanded this order by telling people within a 3-mile radius to shelter in place by early Wednesday.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz confirmed that a sheriff's deputy was injured when reporting to the explosion. As of midday Wednesday, about 30 people had been treated for symptoms at ProMedica’s healthcare facilities.

Meteorologists said that a temperature inversion may have made the situation worse, as crews are having a hard time distinguishing between the fog and the chemical plume. Dense fog formed across this part of the state overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, just as crews were trying to get a handle on the crisis. In addition, the same atmospheric conditions that supported the development of the dense fog may have also trapped the chemicals closer to the ground rather than allowing them to disperse.

The fog had already started to form when the first call about the chemical spill came in at about 10:45 pm. For example, Toledo Suburban Airport reported fog beginning at 9:35 pm, over an hour before the release happened.

Calm winds also worked to trap the moisture and pollutants closer to the ground. The temperature inversion happened as a layer of warm air hovered above the cooler air closer to the surface, working as a lid and trapping both the moisture and the pollutants.

Rather than dispersing through the wind in a more typical atmospheric setup, the airborne chemicals were trapped at the surface. The atmospheric conditions also contributed to the concentrated nature of the toxic chemicals.

Visibility dropped to near zero about 15 minutes after the release, exacerbating the impacts. This visibility hovered around zero and a quarter-mile through the overnight hours.

Details of the Leak  

Equipment owned and operated by MC Tank Transport was responsible for the release. Officials identified the leaked chemical as glycidyl methacrylate. This industrial substance is most commonly used in manufacturing plastics, paints, and coatings.

In addition to the evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, the incident also disrupted schools and contributed to travel disruptions. Several roads were closed as crews were dispatched to the impacted region to monitor the situation.

Local officials warned that reduced visibility along Interstate 75 in northern Toledo was causing disruptions. The City of Toledo also told residents that it was not prudent to determine potential exposure threats simply by the outward appearance of the air.

Winds remained light throughout Toledo on Wednesday. Another batch of fog is forecast to roll into the region on Wednesday evening. The expectation of calm winds will keep the chemical pollutants locked near the surface of the ground.

Authorities are telling residents to remain in their shelters until instructed otherwise. All windows and doors should be shut, and ventilation systems that bring in outside air should be disabled.

Shoreland Elementary School has been opened as a temporary shelter. Red Cross personnel and Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority buses were dispatched to the Meijer parking lot off East Alexis Road to help displaced residents find shelter and supplies.

Symptoms of exposure include nose, mouth, skin, and eye irritation. Other possible symptoms to look out for are headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

The City of Toledo is the best source for evacuation and shelter-in-place updates. Residents are also being told to follow the advice of the Toledo Fire & Rescue and Lucas County emergency management officials rather than trying to determine their personal risk by whether they can see the plume of chemicals.

The latest evacuation information is available through the City of Toledo's official emergency updates.

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