Toledo officials gave the all-clear on the afternoon of October 23 for residents to return to their homes after a chemical tank leak in north Toledo that began on the night of October 20 forced evacuations and shelter-in-place orders.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the final contents of the tank had vented out late on October 22 and the tank was entirely empty. The evacuation order had already been reduced to a quarter-mile radius from the MC Tank Transport site the day before.
“As of late last night, the final contents of the tank vented out and so now the tank is entirely empty,” Kapszukiewicz said at a news conference. “It did take longer than we thought it would, longer than we wanted it to, frankly.”
Toledo Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Blake Molnar said officials were confident the site was safe. As long as chemical remained in the tank, officials had said there was a risk that prevented hazardous materials responders from approaching it, and no fire occurred during the incident, officials said on October 23.
Kapszukiewicz said the release was caused by an error by an MC Tank Transport employee who was attempting to transfer the substance, and that the company has accepted responsibility. He said the employee introduced a temperature level to the tank during the transfer process. Officials said it was an employee who first called 911 to alert authorities.
A total of 57 people sought treatment at hospitals for symptoms related to potential exposure, Kapszukiewicz said, and all were in good condition. Their symptoms included headaches, difficulty breathing and watery eyes. The chemical, glycidyl methacrylate, is used in certain plastics, paints and coatings, authorities said.
City health officials advised residents returning home to ventilate their homes with fresh air, clean surfaces and throw out any uncovered foods. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel said there were still unanswered questions and that there would be an investigation.
The all-clear ends several days of evacuation and shelter-in-place orders that affected hundreds of residents near the site, with a wider area advised to shelter in place earlier in the week.