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Evacuations and shelter-in-place orders issued in Toledo, Ohio, after chemical release
Officials said the toxic irritant may still be leaking as crews monitor air quality and keep residents out of the hazard zone.
A chemical release at the Sterling Pipe & Tube facility in Toledo on Tuesday night triggered an immediate evacuation order for residents within a one-mile radius of the site.
The leak originated from a tank at the factory on Progress Avenue at approximately 10:50 p.m., according to the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency.
A shelter-in-place order covers a three-mile radius around 1050 Progress Ave, where officials ask residents to close all windows and turn off ventilation systems to avoid outside air.
Several streets in the area were blocked off by police as the incident unfolded, while workers at the nearby Toledo Assembly complex were also evacuated around 11 p.m.
The EPA identified the substance as an adhesive coating, which is not considered highly toxic but can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation.